Ray Erwin is awaiting sentencing hearing that could jail him for three to nine months
By PAUL DELANEY
Staff Reporter
Contrary to the Crimestoppers Northwest website, and reports from the Spokane County Sheriff's office, former Medical Lake High School student and athlete Ray Erwin is neither a wanted fugitive nor in jail.
Following an appearance in Spokane County Superior Court this past Monday, Erwin was released on his own recognizance. “The judge felt that he didn't pose a flight risk,” Jeremy Benson, Erwin's attorney, said.
“Both the prosecuting attorneys office and obviously, the defense, agreed on his release, and he was released,” Benson said. An arraignment hearing will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 23 and at that time a trial date will be set.
“He's not a fugitive,” Benson said. Erwin's been in contact with his attorney as the parties try to resolve the issue.
Erwin had a warrant out for his arrest after he made a threat to burn down Medical Lake High School. The threat was made to a resident of Medical Lake on June 6. Erwin indicated he planned to burn the school down on the last day of school, Friday, June 12.
Erwin, who was a first team all Great Northern League selection for the Medical Lake Cardinals this past season, graduated from the alternative high school in June. However, because of the threat, Erwin is not to set foot on any school district property.
In the initial Crimestoppers notice, posted on Aug. 27, it listed Erwin as among a group people wanted for a variety of crimes. It gave the 18 year-old's last known residence as 312 Lake St. in Medical Lake. Erwin had been seen in both Cheney and Medical Lake in the past few weeks, prompting some to wonder why he had not been arrested.
“Sometime Crimestoppers – I don't know exactly how it works – it's kind of automatic,” Benson explained. “They just go through superior court and find out who's got a warrant for them and now they're wanted criminals.”
According to Rachel Sterrett of the Spokane County prosecutor's office, Erwin missed an earlier arraignment date due to his working out of the area and that triggered the appearance on Crimestoppers.
Benson confirmed that, saying Erwin was working for a pipeline company in southeast Washington and was unable to appear. “He's been charged so Monday was his first time before the court,” his attorney explained. “Charges will informerly be read, they will accept his plea of not guilty.” The standard sentence range for Erwin's threat is three to nine months according to Sterrett.
“We'll look at the evidence, talk to the prosecutor and make a determination of what route we're going to take, whether it will be a trial or whether just resolving it through negotiations,” Benson said of the process.
“At this point I've seen some of the discovery, but not enough to sit down and say this is what I think is going to happen,” Benson said.
Crimestoppers reported Erwin already has an eight-year criminal record. Further research showed over the past couple of years Erwin attempted to enroll at both West Valley and Cheney. West Valley said Erwin, who had sought to become a “choice” student there, “was advised to enroll in his home district,” according to information supplied by the district.
Erwin also spent a month at Cheney High during the 2007-08 school year according to information obtained from the high school.
Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected]
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