INDEX — An Index-area man has admitted, two years later, that he cut down the gate to his private community during a feud with its leaders.
Scott Anderson, 57, likely is looking at around four months behind bars, according to a plea agreement from November.
Sentencing is set for Jan. 15.
Police say Anderson was caught on surveillance video sawing through the hydraulic gate at the entrance to the Mount Index Riversites in July 2016. The neighborhood is off U.S. 2, along the South Fork Skykomish River.
At the time, the area was having significant problems with squatters and drug activity. Police have said that Anderson’s property was a major factor, on a parcel they described as being “composed of various outbuildings.”
Neighbors reported that the place didn’t have running water except for a pump in the creek.
Anderson has moved from the neighborhood, according to court papers.
In the recent plea, he admitted to malicious mischief, being a felon in possession of a firearm and meth possession, which are all felonies. As part of the agreement, the drug charge was reduced from a more serious offense.
As sentencing approaches, people affiliated with the Mount Index Riversites Community Club have filed 11 pages of victim statements.
Several of them said that Anderson’s visitors cursed at them and made threats, left garbage on their properties, and didn’t obey the neighborhood’s speed limits.
They spent about $20,000 to install the gate, they said.
In 2016, the vehicle counts into the neighborhood had tripled from around 100 a day to 300, according to the letters. That number is back to normal, and the gate has been somewhat repaired, they said, but they hope that money from restitution will help with further restoration.
The Riversites still have some issues with drug-dealing, but not at the same level, they said.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @rikkiking.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
