Teen convicted in death of popular coach

KENNEWICK – A jury Friday convicted a 17-year-old boy of first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of a popular teacher and coach at a Benton City school.

Robert Suarez is scheduled to be sentenced March 23 in Benton County Superior Court. Jurors deliberated less than three hours before returning the verdict Friday morning.

Bob Mars, 44, of Richland, was stabbed late Sept. 4 after returning to Kiona-Benton Middle School after a football game. He was a sixth-grade teacher at the middle school and assistant football coach at Kiona-Benton High School.

Trial is pending against another teen accused in the case, Jordan Castillo.

Castillo, 15, is scheduled for trial May 16 on charges of first-degree murder and first-degree attempted theft. Castillo is accused of stabbing Mars while Suarez encouraged him.