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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Home Monitoring Denied By Judge

From Staff And Wire Reports

A judge ordered Henry Luke to begin serving a prison sentence despite the man’s request that he be released on home monitoring while he appeals.

Luke told 1st District Judge Gary Haman that he plans to appeal convictions for second-degree attempted murder and burglary in the severe beating of Dorothy Kjera.

Haman sentenced Luke to 15 years in prison Friday on the attempted-murder charge. The judge also ordered that the 39-year-old Coeur d’Alene man serve at least one of the 10 years he imposed as sentence for the burglary charge.

Chief public defender John Adams recommended that Haman allow Luke to wear an electronic-monitoring bracelet on his ankle and live with his mother until his appeal is settled.

Prosecutors opposed the request for home monitoring. Deputy prosecutor Rick Baughman said that Luke locked Kjera’s door before beating the 82-year-old woman with a lamp, candlestick and a candy dish.

Luke admitted to police that he attacked Kjera, but later recanted the confession. He maintained his innocence at his sentencing hearing.

A jury deliberated for 16 hours in November before finding Luke guilty.

, DataTimes