Assault, Riot Cases Headed To Trial

Coaches, employers, roommates and friends turned them in.

Parents bailed them out.

Now, Whitman County Prosecutor James Kaufman is building cases against them.

Dozens of officers will have to testify at the trials of 14 alleged campus rioters. Scores of subpoenas are being issued for other witnesses.

The cases have created the busiest Whitman County Superior Court docket in recent history.

On Thursday, Judge Wallis Friel denied a change of venue motion brought by several defendants. Their lawyers argued that the Washington State University students can’t get a fair trial here because so many potential jurors have ties to the university.

The first riot case is scheduled for a bench trial on Aug. 24, the first day of WSU’s fall classes.

“Where direct assaults on police officers can be established, those cases will receive the highest priority,” Kaufman said.

Eight of the 14 defendants are charged with second-degree assault for allegedly attacking officers, a felony that carries up to nine months in jail.

Jamie Jackson, 23, is set to stand trial Sept. 8 on two counts of second-degree assault and one count of felony riot. Jackson is from Vancouver, B.C., and was a senior living at Alpha Gamma Rho at the time of the May riot.

Jackson, who planned to attend law school, donned a cap and gown at graduation ceremonies shortly after the rampage. But the case intended for his bachelor’s degree in business administration was empty. He was permanently expelled over the summer, losing the degree for good.

Authorities said Jackson, a former WSU lacrosse player injured in a 1996 car wreck, was easily identified as a rioter because he’s missing half of his right arm.

Whitman County sheriff’s Sgt. Don Anderson said he saw Jackson pick up a concrete block and fling it at Deputy Kirk Banks, bruising the officer’s shoulder and chest.

Jackson is also accused of hurling a bowling ball-sized chunk of concrete at Washington State Patrol Trooper Rick Taylor. Taylor was hospitalized for injuries to his abdomen and groin.

Each time, Jackson raised his arms in victory over the downed officers, witnesses said.

Spencer Jarman, 20, of Ellensburg was a WSU student last semester. He is charged with second-degree assault and felony riot, with a trial set for Dec. 8.

Officers said they saw a man later identified as Jarman throwing beer cans and concrete at officers.

Jarman claims he watched the riot but didn’t participate. He is willing to take a lie detector test to prove it, his lawyer said in court documents.

Nason Beckett, 23, of Port Orchard was a WSU student and baseball player last semester. He’s scheduled to stand trial Oct. 19 on second-degree assault and felony riot charges.

Witnesses say they saw Beckett, wearing a straw hat and bandanna, tearing a barbecue pit apart. The broken cinder block was later thrown at police.

Jason Williams, 22, of Colville was a WSU student last semester. He’s charged with second-degree assault and felony riot. His trial is set for Dec. 4.

According to his arrest warrant, Williams was seen with a rock in each hand, rocking them slowly back and forth, “as if weighing them to determine which was the best one to throw.” He allegedly cheered after hitting an officer with one of the rocks.

Joshua Sewell, 22, of Port Orchard, Wash., is charged with second-degree assault, felony riot and indecent exposure.

According to court documents, Sewell was spotted assisting friends who were throwing rocks at police. He also is accused of urinating on the street. His trial date hasn’t been set.

Michael Krouse, a 28-year-old Pullman carpenter, is charged with second-degree assault, third-degree assault and felony riot. The trial is set for Sept. 21.

Deputy Doug Stanley identified Krouse as the person who threw rocks at officers, punched him in the face and later threw an iron watermeter cover at him, fracturing his ankle. Deputy Banks said Krouse also threw a bar stool at him.

Deputies tried to arrest Krouse during the melee but had to let him go after getting hit with a barrage of objects.

Brent Beardslee, 22, of Colville, Wash., was a WSU student last semester. He’s scheduled to stand trial Dec. 14 on second-degree assault and felony riot charges.

Police say Beardslee was caught on videotape throwing an object at officers. He was turned in by his roommate, Brenden Marshall, 22, of Longview, Wash., a former WSU football player arrested in connection with the riot.

Benjamin Hill, 21, of Spokane has been charged with second-degree assault and felony riot.

Police said they identified Hill on videotape throwing a rock and a section of chain-link fence at officers. His trial date has not been set.

Others charged with felony riot, all former WSU students, are: David McCudden, 19, of Issaquah, Wash.; Derek Willson, 23, of Leavenworth, Wash.; Matthew Mihali, 20, of Fox Island, Wash.; Joel Millar, 21, of Federal Way, Wash.; and Clinton Yates, 24, of Parker, Colo.