June 14, 2012 Shelton Mason County Journal | ![]() |
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By KEVIN SPRADLIN
Over the objections of Mason
County Prosecutor Michael Dorcy,
Superior Court Judge Amber Finlay
reduced Kristina Selwyn's bail to
$250,000 from $500,000.
Selwyn, 24, of Shelton, has been
charged with rendering criminal as-
sistance connected to a double ho-
micide on Memorial Day in Shelton.
Authorities allege that, during ques-
tioning, Selwyn's answers allowed
shooting suspect Charles S. Long-
shore to evade capture.
Defense attorney James Morrison
said' Monday during arraignment
that the original bond, set by Judge.
Toni A. Sheldon, seemed "excessive."
The temporary punishment also
didn't fit the charge of rendering
criminal assistance -- a charge that
had no violence attached to it, Mar-
rison said.
In addition, Morrison argued, Sel-
wyn had a dated criminal history --
a residential burglary from five years
ago -- and had never failed to appear
for a scheduled court hearing.
Morrison said Selwyn was willing
to wear an electronic monitor and that
her parents, who attended Monday's
proceeding, were willing to guarantee
their daughter's appearance.
Morrison said the court had only
three things to consider regarding
a potential reduction in bond: Com-
munity safety, an assurance of the
defendant's appearance in court and
that she had no prior "failure to ap-
pear" incidents.
"There are those
who might think
$500,000 is not
excessive.==
"I ask the court to lower the bail to
about $10,000," Morrison said.
Prosecuting Attorney Michael
Dorcy countered that the defense
raised "no.thing new" during arraign-
ment that was not presented during
the intitial bond hearing.
"There are those who might think
$500,000 is not excessive," Dorcy
said.
Dorcy acknowledged that Selwyn's
alleged crime was not violent in and
of itself -- but was specifically at-
tached to two victims who were mur-
dered in the kitchen of their Harvard
Avenue home in what police describe
as a "drug debt" collection gone
wrong~
Finlay told Morrison that the court
does not look at Selwyn's charge "in a
vacuum" and is permitted to link it to
the violent crime.
Selwyn, Finlay said, "knowingly
disrupted" law enforcement's ability
to take Longshore into custody and
her assistance could have prevented
a four-day manhunt. Longshore was
eventually caught on June 1 during a
routine traffic stop near Shelton.
Selwyn also pleaded not guilty to
the charge. As of Wednesday morn-
ing, she remained confined in Mason
County Jail.
Robert Raphael, 32, of Shelton,
also pleaded not guilty to charges of
first-degree murder and rendering
criminal assistance.
Raphael has been held on $2.5
million bond since his arrest on May
28.
Police allege that Raphael lied to
police and was in the kitchen when
Longshore opened fire on Tyler
Drake, 19, and Anitrea Taber, 37.
Bail was not discussed. Dorcy,
though, asked whether Raphael's
court-appointed defense attorney
Christopher A. Baum, of Chehalis,
planned to hire an expert to examine
the bodies.
The bodies are still in the custody
of Mason County Coronor Wes Stock-
well. They are unable to be released
to the families until everyone signs
off.
Baum, however, expressed frus-
tration by the fact that the defense
has been given no police reports from
an incident more than two weeks old.
Baum said he couldn't say wheth-
er or not an expert would need to ex-
amine the bodies until he reviewed,
at the very least, initial investigation
reports.
Baum said he was "mindful" of the
families' wishes to bury the victims.
But "I would have thought I would
have received something" by now, he
said.
"I know how the shots took place
and the impact on the victims," Baum
said. "I don't know anything else:"
Finlay suggested that Dorcy turn
over any police reports as soon as
possible.
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SHS alum graduates from West Point
By NATALIE JOHNSON
Many students dream
about attending college after
graduating high school.
Luke Pittman dreamed of
an adventure.
"He wanted more than the
ordinary college experience.
He got it," said his mother,
Linda Pittman.
On May 26, Pittman, a Shel-
ton High School (SHS) alum- courtesy photo
nus, gradfiated from the Unit- Shelton High School alumnus Luke Pittman,
ed States Military Academy at center, stands with his parents Luther and
West Point in New York as a Linda Pittman, after graduating from The
second lieutenant with a bach- United States Military Academy at West Point
elor's degree in life science. In in May.
July, he'll start taking classes
toward a medical degree at West Point also has much, grams that he believed made
University of California-San higher standards of conduct, the difference in his West
Diego. It also has a strict honor code. Point application.
"I realized about half The West Point Honor First he participated in
way in ... that I wanted to Code is simple, but holds the Evergreen Boys State
do medical school," he said. cadets to a high standard, American Legion camp, at
"They send 2 percent at most reading, "A cadet will not lie, which he learned about state
of every graduating class at cheat, steal, or tolerate those government.
West Point directly to medi- who do." He also participated in
cal school.". Pittman said this code was the Washington State Patrol
Four years at West Pointdifficult to live up to, but ulti- Boot Camp and the Wash-
is a very different commit- mately rewarding, ington Aerospace Scholars, a
ment from the same time at "The hardest part is notprogram based at the Seattle
a traditional university, Pitt- tolerating those who do," he Museum of Flight.
man said. said. '~You find others around The aerospace program
"When you're at West you who may lie and cheat was a six-month online study
Point it's a lot of stress all and if you discOver that, it is program for aerospace sci-
the time. You're very busy your charge to bring them up ence and math.
non-stop," he said. "Graduat- on that. You might have your Pittman got an "A" for the
ing from there, because it's so best friend who lies to some- program, and was invited to
challenging, has been a pret- body and you witness the lie do a week-long residency at
ty big milestone." ... Now it's your responsibility the Museum of Flight.
Pittman said an average that he is found on that lie." "All three of these he ap-
'day started between 5 a.m. The school's honor code, a plied for and they were paid
and 6 a.m., and after hours very important part of cadet for (with scholarships)," Lin-
of classes, totaling about 25 life, prepares students for da Pittman said.
credits per semester, drills, their time in the military, he Pittman's time in medical
such as marching with a rifle, said. school will be entirely paid
mandatory sports activities "The whole idea is if you for by the Army. After he fin-
and stt~dying, he often didn't can't trust the people you ishes his studies, he will be
get to bed until midnight or 1 work with, especially in the committed to an additional
a.m. Army, it's worthless," he said. eight years and 10 months of
'~rou have a lot of respon- When considering his op-service in the Army.
sibility," he said. "I've been a tions for college as a student "A typical West Pointer
squad leader before- I've been at SHS, Pittman first consid- has a five-year commitment
in charge of everybody in my ered the Air Force Academy, of active duty se~wice ... after
squad. You're really respon- but said an interview with a they graduate," he said.
sible for everything they do." West Point recruiter changed Pittman said it will be at
Pittman also participated his mind. least 17 years before he has
in activities such as floor "I realized that (West the Opportunity to leave the
hockey, football and manda- Point) was going to be the Army, but is enthusiastic
tory boxing, gymnastics and " better experience for me," he about the commitment.
survival swimming classes, said. "The Army is focused on "I'll be a doctor in the
"They pretty much drown people and leading people. Army specifically and I will
you in that class," he said. I've always been more inter- likely be deployed to various
At the end of all that, ested in people." locations around the world,"
standing with his classmates A dedicated member of the he said. "I feel like being an
at graduation, Pittman said SHS track and field team, as Army doctor is going to be an
it was all worth it. well as a member of Climber awesome privilege."
'Tou know everybody to Crew, Pittman put every-In 2008, Pittman spent
your left and right has been thing he had into makingtime with physicians at the
through that -- you knowhis dream of attending West former Walter Reed Army
you can trust those people," Point a reality. Medical Center.
he said. While in high school, he"Every Army physician I
Compared to other schools, participated in three pro- met, they loved what they did
and they helped people a lot,"
he said. "I don't see how you
could go home and not love
what you do."
Pittman is spending part
of June at home in Shelton
with his family before head-
ing to San Diego to get set up
for medical school. Despite
the fact that much of his time
is spent far away he says he
loves his hometown.
"It's about the adventure,
not about the avoidance,"
he said. "I love coming back
here."
And his parents are enjoy-
ing having him home before
his next adventure.
"He did this all himself
and I'm really happy for
him," his father, Luther Pit-
tman, said. "He's always had
a good heart and I think that
speaks for itself in him want-
ing to be a doctor."
I
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Shelton-Mason County Journal -Thursday, June 14, 2012 - Page A-3