In brief: Six-time felon pleads guilty to gun charge

A felon with ties to a former Spokane County deputy prosecutor pleaded guilty to a gun charge in federal court Thursday and faces a prison sentence of at least five years.

Matthew Baumrucker, 31, was arrested at a Spokane Valley motel in March. Police found a gun on an air conditioning unit outside the room where Baumrucker was staying, and later linked it to the six-time convicted felon.

Baumrucker received frequent jail visits from Marriya Wright, a former deputy prosecutor not involved in Baumrucker’s cases. A search of his cell revealed a photo of Wright, a competitive bodybuilder, in a bikini.

Baumrucker pleaded guilty Thursday to unlawful possession of the gun. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for May in U.S. District Court.

Wright pleaded guilty to rendering criminal assistance last year after phone records and witnesses indicated she had contact with Baumrucker while he was on the lam. She received a suspended sentence and was ordered to complete community service through her church.

Kip Hill

Judge postpones trial in slaying of WWII vet

The trial for teenage murder suspect Demetruis Glenn was pushed back Thursday to March 10 at the request of Glenn’s attorney, Christian Phelps.

Glenn, 17, was scheduled to stand trial with co-defendant Kenan Adams-Kinard starting Jan. 12 for the 2013 murder of World War II veteran Delbert “Shorty” Belton, 88. But Adams-Kinard pleaded guilty to the murder Wednesday in exchange for the prosecution dropping robbery charges against him.

That plea changed the complexity of the case, Phelps said Thursday, and means he needs more time to prepare for Glenn’s trial.

He requested a new trial date after Adams-Kinard’s sentencing, which is expected in mid-February.

Rachel Alexander

Local police academy welcomes trainees

For the first time since 2008, Eastern Washington police recruits won’t have to travel to Burien for training.

Spokane kicked off the Basic Law Enforcement Academy this week, offering four-month training for 30 police officer candidates from the Tri-Cities, Pullman, Wenatchee, Yakima and other towns on the east side of the state.

Spokane police have six officers enrolled in the academy. The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office has seven.

“This is a huge milestone for the Spokane police division,” Mayor David Condon said at the ceremony beginning the academy.

Rachel Alexander