September 6, 2012 Shelton Mason County Journal | ![]() |
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Trial
Continued from page A-1
years in prison.
"Mr. Baze in this incident, in
this e,~ent, was an accomplice to
the crimes of assault and robbery,
and in the course of that assault
and robbery, Shawn Morrow was
killed," Dorcy said in his closing
arguments on Wednesday. "No
one is here to suggest to you that
Shawn Morrow didn't have his
demons that he dealt with in his
life, but today he's dead and he
shouldn't be."
Stephan R.C. Churchill has
also been charged with first-de-
gree murder in the case. His trial
is scheduled to start Monday.
Dorcy asked the jury to disregard
that fact.
"Those other individuals be-
long to another jury at another
time, they're not your concern,"
Dorcy said.
Baze's defense attorney,
Charles Lane, began his clos-
ing argument at about noon on
Wednesday. He began by saying
that in his arguments Dorcy did
not meet the burden of proof in
the case.
"As my client sits here, he has
merely been accused," Lane said.
"My client, he had no motive. He
had no dog in this fight."
Lane called Morrow during his
remarks to the jury, a "liar, thief,
heroin addict."
The state's
case against
Baze began with
jury selection on
Aug. 28 and con-
tinued with the
prosecution's
case through the
following Tues-
Travis day morning.
Dorcy took
Baze extensive tes-
timony in the
trial from Detective Jeff Rhoades
of the Mason County Sheriffs Of-
rice, the lead investigator in the
assault on Morrow, about a se-
ries of text messages leading up
to the assault, between phones
used by Baze, Churchill and Mor-
row.
In text messages sent March
26, the day of the assault, Mor-
row sent a message to Baze's
phone expressing an interest to
buy heroin. The prosecution ar- while Churchill hit Morrow in items.
gues that Baze was part of a pro- the head twice with a metal base- Morrow and Churchill were
cess to lure Morrow to the public ball bat. Baze also stated that he both confidential informants for
fishing area where the assault knew Churchill took the metal the sheriffs department.
took place later that day. bat from the home they were both Morrow had previously helped
In text messages, Baze set up living at on Olde Lyme Road.detectives arrest Churchill for
a meeting with Morrow at theAfter the assault, Baze saidselling heroin. Churchill stated
public fishing area just north of he waited to watch Morrow try in his confession tape, played
Bayshore on State Route 3. to get up, then drove home with as evidence in pretrial hearings
On Friday, the prosecution Churchill. for his own murder trial, that
also played a nearly hour-long "It sounded terrible, I was con- Morrow burglarized his house
exerpt from a taped confession cerned for his well-being," Baze while he was in jail on the heroin
Baze made to Rhoades and De-said in the confession, charge.
tective Matt Ledford, also of Dorcy presented evidence from Dorcy rested his case Tuesday
the Mason County Sheriffs Of- a forensic pathologist showing morning.
rice, on March 27 after he and that Morrow had experienced Lane called Baze's father,
Churchill were arrested for the significant trauma to the head, Herb Baze, as his first witness.
assault, including skull fractures and He testified that his son worked
In his confession, Baze saidswelling of the brain from at for him at The Strip Steak House,
Churchill actually sent many of least three hits to the head from a business he owns in downtown
the messages to Morrow from a blunt object. Shelton.
Baze's phone. Based on the The prosecution also allegesHe also testified under cross
phone records, Dorcy said Baze that Baze and Churchill tookexamination that his son was not
actually contacted Morrow first, cash that Morrow brought to working when the assault took
after Morrow inquired elsewhere buy heroin. Baze confessed on place on March 26.
about buying heroin, the tape that Churchill took $45 Lane also called Fred Dough-
Baze admitted in the taped from Morrow. ty, a private investigator, but
confession that he drove Baze also confessed that Judge Amber Finlay deemed that
Churchill in his car to the public Churchill told him afterwardhis testimony was not relevant to
fishing area, where they waited that the attack was intended as the facts of the case, after an ob-
for Morrow to appear, retribution because he believed jection from Dorcy.
Baze told detectives after Mor- Morrow burglarized his'house in Lane rested his case on Tues-
row arrived, he waited in his car Feburary, taking a TV and other day afternoon.
Suit
Continued from page A-1
entered into an Interim
Management Agreement,
which appointed John Clees
as interim manager of the
racetrack while Manke and
Powell worked with an ac-
countant to resolve their dif-
ferences
The lawsuit also alleges
that Manke promised RG my land (sic) with my money buy Manke's share, or sell by the court. The countersuit torsports Group and Pacific
Construction owner George and Rustys (sic) 1.7million his own for $5 million,states, "(Manke's) damages, Motorsports Management
"Rusty" Gill, the general (sic) dollar credit to become Manke's suit alleges that if any, are the result of risks and for an appointment of a
contractor in the project to equity afar powell (sic)is Powell backed out of the voluntarily and knowingly receiver to manage the busi-
build the track, a $1.7 mil- dealt with." agreement after Manke assumed by (Manke)." nesses.
lion share in the company. On July 23, RG Construc- agreed to take the buyout. The countersuit also al- A hearing to consider the
The lawsuit includes a copy tion filed a $1.7 million lien Powell's countersuit claims leges that negligent conduct appointment of a general
of the email making that ar- on the racetrack, that Manke is responsible for on behalf of Manke "contrib- receiver for the companies
rangement. In mid-July, Powell andthe deal falling through be- uted directly and proximate- is scheduled for 1:30 p.m on
The email, from Manke Manke's lawyers exchanged cause he didn't complete doc- ly to his own alleged dam- Sept. 10 in Mason County
to Clees, reads in part, "The emails about a possible buy- uments related to the buyout, ages." Superior Court.
ridge has been built by my- out of the track. Powell sug- Manke's lawsuit asked for Both suits ask for dis-Manke did not return a re-
self and Rusty Gill with on gested that he would either damages to be determined solution of The Ridge Mo- quest i~or comment.
Fairgrounds
Continued from page A-1
voted against the proposal.
"If the property is not appropriate for a
fairgrounds, how is it that we just discov-
ered that?" he asked.
In 2001, the Federal Aviation Admin-
istration notified the port that it would
not support a renewal of the county's fair-
ground lease beyond its end date in De-
cember 2013.
ing to discuss the port's options. Taylor
said he called Suomi to schedule a meet-
ing on Aug. 29.
"The FAA declined our invitation," he
said.
The port commission also voted last
month to make changes to Hupp's six-
page future use plan. What emerged was
a slimmed-down document, which Hupp
called "a butchery" of his own.
While Hupp's future use plan focused
on keeping the fairgrounds as is and fight-
ing the FAA, the new plan, renamed the
The port's 1997 Airport Mas~er PlanFairgrounds Relocation Pla~ifi:Tuesday's
designateffl the "fairgrounds prol~erty as meeting, follows the FAA's'wi'#hes.
long-term aviation. Hupp plans to continue circulating his
Carol Suomi, manager of the Seattlefuture use plan, which he said has grown
Airports District Office of the FAA, sent to more than eight pages, in the commu-
a letter to the port in response to Hupp's nity.
first Fairgrounds Future Use Plan on July Taylor also said in the meeting that
31. Mason County has authorized land for a
Her letter states that after December new fairgrounds location.
2013, the port must make efforts to revert Mason County Commissioner Steve
the land back to airport use, and failing Bloomfield was at Tuesday's meeting,
that, a profitable business venture ap- and told the Shelton-Mason County Jour-
proved of by the FAA. nal that the land Taylor referred to was
Hupp has long argued that the FAA does set aside as a possible location for a fair-
not have the authority to force the port to grounds in 2006, but that the Board of
stop using the land as a fairgrounds, and Commissioners has no plans to commit
said he introduced his future use plan, that land to a fairground now.
and subsequent drafts of six or more pag- "I think maybe you should have had
es, as a way to challenge the FAA. your people contact my people," Bloom-
Last month, the port commission field said during public comment at Tues-
agreed to reach out to the FAA for a meet- day's meeting.
Testing
Continued from page A-1
percent of students are eligible for free or
reduced school lunches statewide, about
61 percent of Shelton students are eligi-
ble because of poverty.
"When we do better than kids in the
state, we feel like we're beating the odds,".
she said.
For the first time, the district's seventh
graders topped the statewide average in
all three of its subjects, reading, writing
and math, Farr said. One disappointment
was a slight drop in the reading scores of
third- and fifth-graders, she said.
Shelton School District Superinten-
dent Wayne Massie said the district
hopes to raise the writing test scores.
Only 49 percent of fourth-graders met the
reading test standards, a drop from 56
percent the previous year.
"We will work more diligently on that,"
Massie said.
In the 218-student Grapeview School
District, 82 percent of fourth-graders met
the reading test standards, compared
to 71 percent statewide. Eighty percent
of the seventh-graders met the read-
ing standards, compared to 67 percent
of their peers. The district's lowest score
was the 25 percent of third-graders who
met the math test standards.
"When we do better
than kids in the-
state, we feel like
we're beating the
odds."
In the 220-student Southside School
District, 80 percent of third-graders met
the reading st~dards, as did 70 percent of
the foarth'graders~ 72 percent of the fifth:
graders,' 5~: p~rce~ of ~el Sixth-graderS,
and 72 percent of the seventh-graders. The
district's highest score was the 81 percent
of the seventh-graders who passed the writ-
hag test; the lowest was the 48 percent of
fourth-graders who passed the math exam.
The highest score in the 145-student
Pioneer School District was the 76 per-
cent of fifth-graders who passed the read-
ing exam. The lowest score was the 28
percent of fourth-graders who met the
math test standards.
In the Hood Canal School District, the
high score was the 67 percent of fourth-
graders who passed the reading test. The
low score was the 11 percent of fifth-grad-
ers who met the math test standard. Ac-
cording to the state, 324 of the district's
340 students were eligible for free or re-
duced price lunches.
Sheriff - Casey Salisbury
IIIIIIII
SEX OFFENDER INFORMATION BULLETIN
LEVEL 3 NOTIFICATION OF RESIDENCE
Date: September 4, 2012
Prepared by:
Detective William
Adam
Bulletin#: 12-32
The Mason County Sheriff's ()ffice is releasing the following inlbrmalion pursuant to RCW 4.24,550 and the Washington State Supreme
Court decision in ~, which authorizes law enforcement agencies 1o inlbrm the public eta sex offenders release when: in the
discretion of the agency, the release of information will enhance public safety and protection. The individual ~ho appears on this
notification has been convicted of a sex offense that requires registration with the Sheriff's ()ffice in the county of their residence. Further,
their previous erimi~ml history places them in a classification level which reflects the potential to re-nit'end. This sex offender has ser`*'ed the
sentence im~oosed on him by the courts and has advised the Mason County Sheriff's Office that he will be living in the location below. HE
IS NOT WANTED BYTHE POLICE ATTHIS TIME. THIS NOTIFICATION IS NOT INTENDED TO INCREASE FEAR,
RATHER, IT IS OUR BELIEF TItAT AN INFORMED PUBLIC IS A SAFER PUBLIC. The Mason County Sheriff's Office has no
legal authority to direct where a sex offender may or may not live. Unless court ordered restrictions exist, this offender is constitutionally
free to live wherever he chooses. Sex offenders ]lave ahvays lived in our communities, but it wasn't until passage of the Community
Pro~e~ti~nAct~f~99~(whichmandatessexq~enderregistra~i~n)that~awentbrcementevenknewwheretheywer~iving~ In many eases,
law enforcement is now able to share thai inlbro|adon with you. Citizen abuse of this information to threaten, intimidate or harass registered
sex offenders wilt not be tolerated, Further, snch abuse conld potenlially end law enforcemem's abdity to do community notitications. We
believe the only p~son who wins if community notilication ends is the sex o fl'ender, since sex offenders derive Iheir pov, er through secrecy.
If you have any information regarding current criminal activity of this or any other offender, nlease call 911.
For other sex offender inlbnnation, I~tt~://so.et~.mason.wa.us/and
click on:
GREGORY ALLEN HOWARD, JR.
WHITE MALE - DOB: !1/30/1982 - 6 02 - 222 LBS.
BLONDE HAIR & BLUE EYES
Gregory HOWARD has recently utoved to Mason County and is required
to register as a sex offender due 1o his conviction on 08/21/1997 of Rape of
i cr
a Child 1~ De=ree, Kitsap County Superior Court cause number
97-8-00198-0. "['his couviction stems fi'om wlten HOWARD was 14 years
old lte sexnally assaulted and raped a 7 year old little boy that was a fiiend
oft friend. HOWARD brandished a katit'e and used threats to kill in order to
a schieve compliance and coutrol of the little boy. HOWARD has nmRiple
convictions of Failure To Register as a Sex Offender as well as other
criminal history including, but,not limited 1o assault. Due to these factors,
HOWARD is considered a HIGH RISK.
HOWARD is no longer on DOC Supervision and his only requirentenl is the
duty to register. HOWARD is assessed by the Mason Connty Sheriff's
Ol:fice as a ' " . This is the highesl-level given Ina Sex
Ofl'euder, meaning that the subject is at a HIGH RISK to re-off'end.
HOWARD has given his address within Mason County as:
Within the 300 Block of
South 1st Street, Shclton, WA
Sheriff - Casey Salisbury
SEX OFFENDER INFORMATION BULLETIN
LEVEL 3 NOTIFICATION OF HOMELESS/TRANSIENT STATUS
Date: September 4, 2012
Prepared by:
Detective William
Adam
Bulletin#: 12-33
The Masot~ Coulny Sheri ff's Office is releasing the Ibllowing inlbrmalion pursuanl to RCW 4.24.550 and the Washington State Supreme
Court decision in ~, x~,hicb authorizes law entbreement agencies to infbrm the public of a sex offenders release when; in the
discretion ol'thc agency, Ihe release of~n formation "*','ill enhance public safety and protection. The individual who appears oil this
notification has been convicted oft sex ofl'ense that requires regislralion with the Sherifl"s Office in the couuty of their residence. Further,
their previous criminal history places them in a classification level ecb.ich reflects the potential to re-offend. This sex offender has served the
sentence imposed on him hy the corms and has advised the Mason County SherilVs Office that he will be living in the location below. HE
IS NOT WANI'E D BY TIlE POLICE AT Tills TIME. THIS NOTIFICATION IS NOT INTENDED TO INCREA~SE FEAR,
RATIIER, IT IS t)l! R BELIEF I"tlAT AN INFORMED PUBLIC IS A SAFER PUBLIC. The Mason County Sheriff's Office has no
legal anthori~y to direct where a sex offender may or may nnt live. Unless court ordered restrictions exist, this offender is constitutionally
free In live wherever he chooses. Sex ofl'cnders have always lived in our communities, but it wasn't until passage of the Community
~,r~t~c~i~Act~f~99I~(~*~hi~`hn~t7d~es~`~