Worker killed at sugar factory

The family of a worker killed at an Amalgamated Sugar factory in southwest Idaho after getting caught in a machine has identified the 45-year-old as Caldwell resident Mario Munoz.

The accident, which happened just before 11 a.m. Friday, is being investigated by the Nampa Police Department, Canyon County Coroner’s office and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Munoz worked for Amalgamated Sugar for 21 years.

OSHA records show there have been six fatal accidents at Amalgamated Sugar facilities in Idaho since 1985.

MOSCOW, IDAHO

Man sentenced for manslaughter

A North Idaho man convicted of voluntary manslaughter in what police say was a conflict between two friends involving a woman has been sentenced to five to 15 years in prison.

But 25-year-old James Curtis Leonard, who pleaded guilty in February to killing Tyler Pace Lee in 2007, could be released sooner after 2nd District Judge Jeff Brudie retained jurisdiction in the case on Friday.

Loftin Lee, the 63-year-old father of the deceased victim, called the sentence unjust.

Latah County Prosecutor William Thompson Jr. said evidence in the case shows the shooting was a crime of passion.

Seattle

Trio convicted for stealing cedars

Three Grays Harbor men convicted for stealing old-growth cedar trees have been ordered to pay $340,00 in restitution.

Craig James of Aberdeen, Bruce Brown of Humptulips and Floyd Stutesman of Hoquiam have all been sentenced for the theft of the 30 cords of wood, which was sold to Seattle mills. However, the wood was of a special quality found only in old growth trees and drew the attention of investigators who found that some of the trees cut were more than 600 years old.

Judge Robert Leighton imposed restitution based on the ecological value of the trees.