Militia Leader Pays Fine In Pennies

A militia leader convicted of assaulting a police officer made a $50 penalty payment in pennies, prompting clerks to work overtime to count the coins.

Bruce Alden Banister, 30, of East Wenatchee, came to the Chelan County clerk’s office just before 5 p.m. Thursday with a box full of pennies.

Banister was convicted by a jury in May of third-degree assault of a Wenatchee police officer, a felony, and resisting arrest, a misdemeanor. The crimes stemmed from a traffic stop last fall for expired license tabs.

He was sentenced to 70 days in work release, which will be completed next week, and ordered to pay $50 a month toward a total of $412 for the officer’s medical expenses.

Courthouse officials said it took clerks an extra 20 minutes - all on overtime - to count and sort 5,000 pennies. About 20 of the pennies were Canadian currency and were returned to Banister, leaving him a little short of $50.