Dragging death suspect arraigned

NEWPORT, Wash. – Newman Lake resident Wendell Clark Sinn Jr. pleaded not guilty Thursday to a second-degree murder charge in the death of a man dragged nearly 13 miles behind a pickup.

Sinn, 45, also pleaded innocent to an alternate charge of first-degree manslaughter and was ordered to stand trial March 31 in Pend Oreille County Superior Court.

Sinn is accused of killing 20-year-old Jerid S. Sturman-Camyn on Nov. 24 by looping a rope around Sturman-Camyn’s neck at an Ione-area hunting camp and tying the other end to a pickup trailer hitch. Investigators say Sinn’s 17-year-old son, Justin Sinn, unwittingly dragged Sturman-Camyn to death when Sinn told him to drive away in the truck.

Under state law, Sinn may be convicted of second-degree murder if Deputy Prosecutor Tony Koures proves Sturman-Camyn died in the course of a second-degree assault.

Authorities say Justin Sinn was unaware that his father had roped Sturman-Camyn to the Ford F-250 pickup. Although the rope was 22 feet long, nighttime darkness and a canopy obscured the teenager’s view.

Witnesses said Sturman-Camyn and his father, Jerry “Scott” Camyn, had been drinking heavily when they and two hunting companions, including a friend of Justin Sinn, visited a nearby camp shared by the Sinns and two others. Jerid Sturman-Camyn reportedly became belligerent and threatened Justin Sinn and others with an ax, according to a sheriff’s spokesman.

Wendell Sinn said nothing Thursday except to answer yes-no questions. But his former attorney, John Nollette, said at a previous court hearing that Sinn acted to defend himself and others.

Superior Court Judge Rebecca Baker agreed Thursday to modify conditions of Sinn’s release on $10,000 cash bail. She allowed Sinn to travel through North Idaho for future court appearances and granted his request to substitute random urine tests for the ankle-bracelet alcohol monitor he had been required to wear.

Sinn’s new attorney, Carl Oreskovich, said Sinn is a construction worker and the ankle bracelet interfered with his work boots.