Murder charges filed in teen’s death
First-degree murder charges were filed Tuesday against two teenagers and a 23-year-old man who allegedly killed a teenage drug dealer while robbing him.
Nicholas J. Walter, 23, and Caleb J. Hanowell, 16, were charged in Spokane County District Court with first-degree felony murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the death of 17-year-old Matthew Migaki early Sunday. The charges eventually will be transferred to Superior Court.
The third suspect, 15-year-old James N. Beasley, was charged in Spokane County Juvenile Court with one count of first-degree felony murder and one count of first-degree robbery. His case eventually could be transferred to adult court, but that would require a judge’s approval.
Deputy Prosecutor Bill Reeves said he plans to confer with supervisors and hopes to make a decision whether to seek adult prosecution of Beasley before his first appearance in juvenile court on June 14. Until then, Beasley has agreed to remain in the county juvenile detention center.
Hanowell remained in the county jail Tuesday evening in lieu of $300,000 bail. Walter remained at large.
Police say the suspects planned to rob Migaki, who was a Shadle Park High School student, by offering to buy 2 ounces of marijuana from him for $460. The plan called for Walter to intimidate Mikagi by working the action of a sawed-off shotgun, but the gun fired and struck Migaki in the neck as the four young men sat in a car, according to court documents.
Walter fled with the marijuana and the shotgun while Beasley and Hanowell took Migaki to Holy Family Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to court documents.
Under Washington’s felony murder rule, defendants can be convicted of murder if a victim dies in the course of a robbery or some other felony. State law also says that 16- and 17-year-old juveniles go straight to adult court if they are charged with serious, violent offenses.
While a first-degree murder conviction might carry a sentence in excess of 20 years in adult court, Beasley would face a standard penalty ranging from 3 1/2 years to almost six years – until he turns 21. The state Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration would determine how much of such an indeterminate sentence Beasley would serve if convicted.