Getaway driver pleads guilty in Spokane murder-for-hire case

The getaway driver accused in the murder-for-hire of South Hill businessman Doug Carlile pleaded guilty Tuesday, leaving only two of the six men implicated in the scheme to stand trial.

Robby J. Wahrer, 35, pleaded guilty to a federal racketeering charge for his role in the December 2013 murder. His recommended sentence was 10 years in prison with five years of supervised release.

Prosecutors said Tuesday that Wahrer agreed to help gunman Timothy Suckow, 51, carry out an armed robbery at Carlile’s home for an unnamed boss in North Dakota. In exchange, Wahrer was told the boss would give him oxycodone pills to sell in Spokane.

That boss is believed to be James Henrikson, who allegedly ordered Carlile’s murder after a joint oil venture in North Dakota went bad. Henrikson is also accused of ordering the 2012 murder of Kristopher “K.C.” Clarke, an employee who was planning to leave and start a rival trucking company.

Suckow and two other defendants pleaded guilty to charges last week, leaving Henrikson to stand trial with Todd Bates. Bates is accused of planning other murders-for-hire on orders from Henrikson, which were not carried out.

Bates was scheduled to plead guilty last week, but U.S. District Court Judge Salvador Mendoza rejected his plea because he was not convinced it was willful. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aine Ahmed said Tuesday there was no longer a plea deal on the table.

“We’d like to proceed to trial with Mr. Bates,” he said.

Henrikson and Bates’ trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 5 in Richland. Mendoza ordered the trial moved last week due to the extensive media coverage of the Carlile killing in Spokane.