Judge may lower bail in hit man case

A judge said Tuesday that he may reduce the bail of a Suncrest man accused of soliciting an attack on his pregnant ex-girlfriend in an effort to kill their unborn child.

First, though, Stevens County Superior Court Judge Al Nielson wants proof there was nothing sinister about an incident last Thursday in which one of the defendant’s friends went to the alleged victim’s home.

Defendant Charles David Young’s 17-year-old former girlfriend appeared in court Tuesday with the baby he allegedly wanted to kill. The girl didn’t speak, but her mother joined Chief Deputy Prosecutor John Troberg in opposing Young’s request to have his bail reduced from a $500,000 bond to $75,000 cash.

Defense attorney Bevan Maxey presented documents indicating that one of Young’s aunts, Loretta E. Hall, of Deer Park, will post up to $100,000 bail. Young has been in the county jail since his arrest Oct. 11, when he allegedly paid $1,620 to a detective posing as the assassin.

Charging documents say Young wanted the “hit man” to beat the girl in the stomach hard enough to kill her fetus, and he didn’t care whether she lived or died. But Maxey said the undercover officer reported Young “had no specific desire” to injure the girl.

Young, 18, originally was charged with soliciting first-degree murder in connection with the girl and with soliciting first-degree manslaughter in connection with her unborn child. Washington’s manslaughter law applies specifically to the death of an unborn child capable of living outside its mother’s womb.

Troberg reduced the murder-solicitation charge Tuesday to solicitation of first-degree assault under aggravated circumstances. Nielson cited the change as a reason to reduce Young’s bail to $100,000.

However, Nielson wanted assurance that Young didn’t encourage one of his friends, a man identified only as Brandon, to visit the girl’s home Thursday – and that “Brandon’s” inquiry about the girl was not intended as a threat.

A sheriff’s detective was assigned to investigate the incident before Nielson makes his decision on the bail reduction on Dec. 27.