Arrasmith Arraignment Set For Tuesday Ex-Deputy Lost Bid For Charges Less Than 1st-Degree Murder

Kenneth D. Arrasmith has been bound over for trial on two counts of first-degree murder for the May 17 shooting deaths of a Clarkston, Wash., couple outside a Lewiston auto shop.

Arrasmith, 44, of Sunnyside, Wash., was returned to the Nez Perce County Jail without bond after Wednesday’s preliminary hearing before Latah County Magistrate William Hamlett.

He is to be arraigned Tuesday before 2nd District Judge Ida Leggett, but court clerks said that date likely would be postponed a week because of a scheduling conflict.

Arrasmith attorney Craig Mosman of Moscow told Hamlett his client’s state of mind should be considered. Mosman said the evidence suggests Arrasmith should be charged with manslaughter or, at most, second-degree murder for the slayings of Ronald and Luella Bingham.

At the time they were killed, the Binghams were under investigation on allegations that they molested Arrasmith’s 15-year-old daughter. The couple was charged with forcibly raping a 16-year-old baby sitter in 1984. Ronald Bingham pleaded guilty to second-degree rape in exchange for charges against his wife being dropped. He served a prison term.

Family members say Arrasmith, a former sheriff’s deputy in Washington’s Asotin County, did some detective work himself into the allegations involving the Binghams and his daughter, and took his findings to authorities about a week before the shootings.

Nez Perce County Prosecutor Denise Rosen said Arrasmith planned the slayings. He approached the Binghams with a gun concealed in a box and shot both of them repeatedly, she said. Investigators found 36 spent bullet casings.

“He came prepared to the scene with five guns and ammunition for each one,” Rosen said.

Hamlett dismissed the idea the killings were in the heat of passion, citing evidence that indicated Arrasmith had “opportunity after opportunity after opportunity for reflection on what he was doing.”