Teen suspects ask for separate trials

EPHRATA, Wash. – Attorneys for two boys accused of killing a 13-year-old Ephrata boy have filed motions seeking separate trials.

Jake Lee Eakin and Evan Drake Savoie, both 13, are accused in the Feb. 15, 2003, slaying of Craig Sorger, a special education student who was beaten and stabbed repeatedly.

Eakin’s attorneys filed a motion charging that there is “substantially more evidence” against Savoie in the murder. His attorneys say prosecutors plan to introduce evidence that Savoie tried to hide a knife and dispose of bloody clothing and washed blood from his skin in a pond.

“I’d say there seems to be a greater amount of evidence against Evan than there is against Jake,” Alan White, an attorney for Eakin, told the Wenatchee World for a story Thursday.

A similar motion asking for two trials was filed on Savoie’s behalf about three weeks ago, said Randy Smith, one of Savoie’s attorneys. The document also says that Savoie will introduce evidence that another individual, not Eakin, committed the crime.

A hearing on Savoie’s motion is set for Sept. 28. A hearing date has not been set for Eakin’s request.

Grant County Prosecutor John Knodell said he does not agree there are grounds to sever the cases. He also said that holding two murder trials would be more expensive for Grant County taxpayers.

The murder trial could cost Grant County nearly $1 million.

Savoie and Eakin have been charged with first-degree murder. They were 12 at the time of their arrests in February 2003 and are believed to among the youngest murder defendants in state history to be tried as adults.

The two boys are being held in juvenile detention in Ephrata. Their trial has been scheduled for Jan. 10.