KIRKLAND — Four teens were arrested Tuesday after three admitted their involvement in a weekend attack on a young man beaten unconscious with his own crutch.
Sean Machak, a senior athlete at Inglemoor High School in nearby Kenmore, suffered a fractured skull and partial paralysis on his right side in Saturday’s attack at a grocery store in this east Seattle suburb.
Doctors believe the paralysis is temporary but have told Machak’s parents he is likely to need extensive physical therapy. He was in satisfactory condition Tuesday, out of intensive care at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
Tacoma
Ex-legislator admits taking ex-POWs’ money: A former legislator and award-winning advocate for military veterans has admitted taking about $300,000 illegally from former prisoners of war and other veterans. Former state Sen. Lena Swanson also is resigning from her job at the state Department of Veterans Affairs and a volunteer position with American Ex-Prisoners of War, and she must repay more than $101,000 under a plea agreement filed Monday in U.S. District Court. In exchange for her guilty plea to receiving unlawful payments, a misdemeanor, government lawyers promised not to bring further action if they learn of other victims.
Seattle
State to pay for damage from ferries: The state of Washington has agreed to pay property owners along Rich Passage and Port Orchard Bay $4.5 million to settle claims related to shoreline damage and erosion from speedy passenger-only ferries on the route between Seattle and Bremerton. The agreement, announced Tuesday, does not bar future lawsuits if damage continues.
Olympia
Drug sentences reduced: Sentences for some drug crimes will decrease and the money saved by shorter prison stays will go to drug treatment under a bill signed by Gov. Gary Locke. House Bill 2338, one of about a dozen Locke signed Monday, adopts a new set of sentencing guidelines for drug crimes, slashing sentences for certain nonviolent offenders. For example, manufacturing heroin or cocaine, delivering it or possessing it with intent to deliver now carries a penalty of 21 to 27 months. Under the new law, the prison sentence would drop to 15 to 20 months.
Brewster
Body found in river identified: A body found on the banks of the Columbia River has been identified as that of a 20-year-old man who had been missing for almost two months, the police chief said. The dead man’s name was Hugo Aparicio Pamatz, a Mexican national who had lived with his aunt and uncle in Brewster since last year, Police Chief Rick Balam said. Pamatz’s body was found last Friday by schoolchildren picking up litter at a park.
Wenatchee
Salmon plan finally settled: After nine years of negotiating, an agreement appears to have been reached on a plan to better protect salmon and steelhead while operating three dams on the Columbia River. The fish habitat conservation plan for the Rocky Reach, Rock Island and Wells dams will have to be approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Rob Salter, director of environmental resources for the Chelan County Public Utilities District, said Monday that the negotiating parties have indicated they’ll sign off on the plan.
Forks
Man accused of second vehicular homicide: A man accused of vehicular homicide in the death of his wife was convicted 13 years ago in a crash that killed a 22-year-old man. Franklin Jay Bolduc, 39, of Forks will be arraigned Friday on the latest charge, which results from a crash last week that killed his 60-year-old wife. Bolduc appeared Monday in Port Angeles before Clallam County Superior Court Judge George Wood, who set bail at $100,000 cash. Franklin Bolduc was previously convicted in a 1989 crash three miles east of Montesano that killed Robert W. Russell of Elma, according to Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Department Chief Criminal Deputy Matt Organ.
From Herald news services
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