Comment sought on bomb incident

Sat., Nov. 5, 2011

Staff Reports

The Spokane Crime Victim Service Center is seeking public input regarding the attempted bombing of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day march by Kevin Harpham earlier this year.

The center is seeking comments for a community impact statement, a description of the crime’s effect on the community, which will be read into the court record for consideration before Harpham’s sentencing.

“It is essential that the community impact statement paint a picture for the court about how the incident of hate crime manifests itself and affects local people,” Gaela Baker, a center outreach coordinator, said in a news release. “A community impact statement can be made by a person not directly involved or affected by the incident in question, but who is in a position to give evidence of its impact on behalf of those who are.”

Contributions will be collated and no names will be disclosed, the news release said. The deadline for contributing is Nov. 11. Statements or questions about the impact statement can be sent to communityimpact5@gmail.com.

In September, Harpham, 37, of Colville, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and attempting to injure people in a hate crime. His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 30; he faces 27 to 32 years in prison if Judge Justin Quackenbush accepts his plea agreement.

The shrapnel-filled bomb was discovered Jan. 17 along the march route at the corner of Main Avenue and Washington Street.

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