News
The Chronicle - Centralia
|
Man who molested 13-year-old girl in Pierce County park has been sentenced to prison
A 60-year-old man has been sentenced for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl at park in Pierce County three years ago. Michael Gary Barber pleaded guilty Feb. 16 to first-degree attempted kidnapping and second-degree child molestation. He was sentenced Friday in Pierce County Superior Court to 52 months in prison and is required to register as a sex offender, court records show. Barber approached the girl on Aug. 22, 2021 at a park and sat next to her on a bench. Barber lived near the victim, but he was a stranger to her. Barber began asking vulgar questions of the girl about her boyfriend and then put his hands down her pants until two children walked by, charging documents show. Barber grabbed the girl's wrist, pulled her into a wooden area behind the park and continued to sexually assault her. When he was standing behind her, the girl was able to run home, documents show. The girl's mother called police and told them that her daughter was raped. Barber was identified as the suspect through Ring camera footage and the girl's description of the assailant. The Ring camera footage showed Barber at their house asking about doing yard work earlier that day, prosecutors wrote. When police went to Barber's house, he and his wife refused to leave, and SWAT was called on to the scene. Barber came out several times to flip off police and tell them to leave before he retreated back inside, according to the charging papers. Police used an explosive device directed at the garage door in an attempt to distract Barber so he would walk out. The plan worked, and Barber walked out, prosecutors wrote. Officers tackled and arrested him. In the sentencing memorandum, Barber's attorney wrote that the defense acknowledged the victim's experience and harm from the incident. The defense asked the Court to sentence Barber to 48 months in prison, citing the decision to enter a guilty plea. Barber's attorney wrote that the victim was supportive of Barber's decision to enter a guilty plea, which would reduce his charges, instead of facing a trial, documents show. ___ (c)2024 The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.) Visit The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.) at www.TheNewsTribune.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. |
|
One injured in crash that closed U.S. Highway 12 between Rochester and Grand Mound for over four hours on Monday 
U.S. Highway 12 was closed for about four-and-a-half hours between Rochester and Grand Mound Monday afternoon following a three-vehicle crash. One of the three drivers, identified by the Washington State Patrol as Anita K. Auld, 74, of Roy, was transported to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash, which was reported just after 2:10 p.m. on April 15. No other injuries were reported. Auld was reportedly driving a gray 2023 Toyota Camry westbound on U.S. Highway 12 when her vehicle crossed the centerline at milepost 43 and collided with an eastbound semi-truck driven by 47-year-old Norman J. Rex, of Centralia. The semi then struck a gray 2023 Hyundai Sonata driven by Ginger L. Conway, 58, of Olympia, in the westbound lane. The Camry and the Sonata came to rest in the westbound lanes, while the semi came to rest in a ditch on the right shoulder of the westbound lanes, according to the Washington State Patrol. No drugs or alcohol were involved in the crash, the state patrol reported. The roadway was closed for a total of four hours and 37 minutes. |
|
Centralia man arrested after striking woman who was on electric scooter, leaving scene in Chehalis 
A 23-year-old Centralia man was arrested Monday after allegedly crashing into a woman who was on an electric scooter and then leaving the scene, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Gabriel A. Smith is facing two counts of vehicular assault, three counts of reckless endangerment and one count of hit-and-run. Officers were dispatched to a parking lot in the 1600 block of Louisiana Avenue in Chehalis at about 7:10 p.m. Monday to a report of a hit-and-run involving a woman on an electric scooter being struck by a vehicle. As officers arrived, they found a 79-year-old Chehalis woman being treated for injuries. “Witnesses reported the vehicle was traveling northbound in a shopping center parking lot near the front of the store at a fast rate of speed when it struck an elderly woman who was in the middle of the crosswalk driving an electric scooter,” the Chehalis Police Department stated in a news release. “Another witness stated she was crossing in the crosswalk with her two children when one of them was almost hit, and a male stated he was crossing in the crosswalk when he was struck by the vehicle. He declined aid for his injuries. It was also discovered the driver struck a parked vehicle, causing damage.” With assistance from the Centralia Police Department, Smith was located and arrested at his residence without incident. The 79-year-old woman was transported to a hospital for treatment but did not appear to have life-threatening injuries, according to Chehalis police. |
NYT Politics
|
House Delivers Impeachment Articles Against Mayorkas, Calling for a Trial
Republicans are demanding a full trial of the homeland security secretary, but Democrats have made it clear they will try to dismiss the charges quickly and with little fanfare.
|
|
Cotton Urges Citizens to Forcibly Confront Pro-Palestinian Protesters
The Republican senator from Arkansas said citizens should “take matters into your own hands” against demonstrators who have stepped up their civil disobedience to protest Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
|
Seattle Times Opinion
|
Voting for America first
If a second Trump presidency endangers our democracy and world security, as some ex-Trump advisers say, they must encourage a vote for Biden in November. |
Metro News
|
The Opal brings affordable, inclusive homes for older adults to Cedar Mill
Built with funding from the Metro affordable housing bond, the new 54-residence apartment building located in Washington County will provide onsite services to resident members of the LGBTQ+ community. |
Portland Business News
|
Vancouver brewer, coffee roaster set to debut downtown tap room
The new taproom will be located just off Main Street, joining a handful of other downtown breweries.
|
Columbian Newspaper
|
House Republicans send Mayorkas impeachment articles to the Senate, forcing a trial
WASHINGTON (AP) — House impeachment managers walked two articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas across the Capitol to the Senate on Tuesday, forcing senators to convene a trial on the allegations that he has “willfully and systematically” refused to enforce immigration laws. |
|
Facing a Republican revolt, House Speaker Johnson pushes ahead on US aid for Ukraine, allies
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defiant and determined, House Speaker Mike Johnson pushed back Tuesday against mounting Republican anger over his proposed U.S. aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other allies, and rejected a call to step aside or risk a vote to oust him from office. |
