Three teen-agers face first-degree murder charges

SEATTLE — Three teen-agers have been charged with first-degree murder in what investigators said began as an attempt to steal cash and marijuana. Coy Nathaniel Graham, 16, and Andrew Lee Harris, 17, both of Auburn, are being prosecuted as adults in the slaying of Lamar Armstrong, 38, at his apartment in Federal Way on Aug. 18. Arraignment was set for Oct. 2. The third boy, 14, of Federal Way, faces a hearing to decide whether he also will be tried as an adult. Documents filed in court by King County prosecutors said Alexander was killed as the trio ransacked his apartment for money and pot. A witness told authorities the youngest boy was crying and said, "It was an accident. I didn’t mean to shoot him," as the group was leaving.

State orders record fraud fine: The Washington Department of Labor and Industries is demanding $353,998 from a Seattle man accused of working as a traveling hypnotist at carnivals and fairs while collecting workers’ compensation benefits. After claiming an injury left him disabled by tremors, shakes and cognitive difficulties in 1985, Bob Chaffin began collecting benefits. An investigation discovered that Chaffin continued to earn money afterward, using 10 aliases and six Social Security numbers, the department said. Chaffin traveled the country selling his skills as a hypnotist, along with self-help hypnosis tapes for weight loss, smoking cessation and relaxation, the investigation found. The evidence included a video of Chaffin running four booths at the Spokane Interstate Fair, the department said.

Firefighters hope blaze is the last of the season: Firefighters hope a 5,000-acre fire burning on wheat fields and scattered timber about five miles southeast of Waitsburg is one of the last of the season. By late Wednesday, about 400 firefighters had dug firebreaks around roughly half the fire area west of the Blue Mountains in southeastern Washington, and they were expected to need another two or three days to complete their work. Crews also battled fires covering 489 acres in the Wenatchee National Forest, 470 acres in the Mount Adams Wilderness Area in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and 100 acres near Grand Coulee Dam. Seven homes were threatened by the smallest and most recent fire, west of the dam in the Spring Canyon Campground near Highway 174. "Everybody at this point has had their fill," said Dale Warriner, a spokesman for the state Department of Natural Resources. "Everybody looks forward to the first fire of the year — and the last."

Feuding twins get probation in flight interference case: Twin sisters convicted of disrupting an international flight that had to be diverted to Anchorage five months ago have been sentenced to probation but no additional jail time. U.S. District Judge John Sedwick sentenced Cynthia Mikula, 22, of Buckley, Mich., to five years probation and ordered her to pay $86,775 in restitution and to perform 231 hours of community service. Identical twin sister Crystal Mikula, also of Buckley, convicted of misdemeanor assault, was sentenced Thursday to two years probation, a $500 fine and 231 hours of community service. "That represents one hour for every passenger on the airline," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Charlie Brown of the community service portion of the sentences. Sedwick also banned the women from commercial air travel for the length of their probation, except for their return to Michigan from Alaska. The restitution to be paid by Cynthia Mikula represents the amount the diversion cost United Airlines. Among the costs, Brown said, were flight crew overtime, landing fees, 20,000 gallons of jet fuel, plus food and hotel accommodations for the 231 other passengers.

Kitzhaber decides against Senate run: Gov. John Kitzhaber won’t run against Republican U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith next year, Kitzhaber announced Thursday. The Democrat decided against a Senate run out of consideration for his wife and their 4-year-old son, said Bob Applegate, the governor’s spokesman. "A job that’s 3,000 miles away with a 4-year-old son is not something to look forward to. He has a personal life he cherishes," Applegate said. With his cowboy boots, blue jeans and an independent streak, Kitzhaber is one of the state’s most popular politicians, and Democrats had hoped to bank on that in the 2002 election.