Man admits trying to burn girlfriend
A Spokane man who tried to burn his girlfriend in bed and stab her after an argument over religion pleaded guilty Tuesday to reduced charges.
Christopher M. Carter, 24, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and illegal possession of an incendiary device. He had been charged with attempted first-degree assault and attempted first-degree arson.
With support from his girlfriend, Joni M. Starkey, 23, Carter also pleaded to be allowed to resume his relationship with Starkey. Carter asked Judge Linda Tompkins not to impose a standard order prohibiting contact with his victim.
“I feel really bad about what happened,” Carter said. “I just want to be able to talk to her again.”
Tompkins denied the request as well as Starkey’s request for permission to give Carter a hug before going to prison.
“It may be important for him to know that she wanted to do that,” Tompkins added, smiling.
She agreed to revisit the issue if Deputy Prosecutor Mark Lindsey presents evidence that Carter has made satisfactory progress in court-ordered alcohol and domestic violence counseling. Lindsey said he thought the order might be lifted “fairly quickly” if Carter does as well as predicted by several people who submitted testimonial letters.
Assistant Public Defender Jeff Compton said even Starkey’s parents had nice things to say about Carter. Compton said he thinks the argument between Carter and Starkey “got totally out of hand” largely because of Carter’s abuse of alcohol.
Lindsey noted that Carter had no history of violence although he was convicted in 1997 of residential burglary and possession of a stolen firearm. Carter told Tompkins he has a ninth-grade education.
He had been working for Central Pre-Mix, and Starkey presented a letter in which the company offered to hire him back when he gets out of prison. Starkey didn’t speak Tuesday, but presented a letter saying she wanted to restore her relationship with Carter. She said there had been no previous violence.
Carter faced a standard-range sentence of 13 to 17 months in prison. Tompkins imposed the minimum, as recommended by Lindsey and Compton. With credit for three months already served, he should be free at least by next September.
Court documents, which Carter adopted as his statement of guilt, say he had been drinking when he came home to the couple’s apartment at 2015 W. 10th about 12:30 a.m. on Aug. 29. The couple argued and he sprayed butane lighter fluid on the bed on which she was lying, and ignited it with a disposable cigarette lighter.
She put out the fire, and he began spraying her with butane and trying to set her on fire, but roommate Theresa Freim intervened. All three went outside, where Freim called 911 on a cell phone.
At that point, Carter opened a folding knife with a 4 1/2 -inch blade and threatened to kill Starkey as she fled. She slipped on the grass and was on her hands and knees when Carter caught up and swung the knife at her back.
Freim deflected the blow, put herself between Starkey and Carter, and pushed Carter back. Carter then walked away, and was arrested nearby when a police officer arrived.
Lindsey said the fire Carter set caused no injury and little damage because butane evaporates quickly and doesn’t soak into objects.