Henrikson faces 40-year prison sentence in Carlile slaying

Update (2:45 p.m.): The fate of the 36-year-old man who orchestrated the deaths of two business associates rests in the hands of the Eastern District of Washington’s newest judge. James Henrikson pleaded guilty Friday to ordering the deaths of Kristopher “K.C.” Clarke and Doug Carlile, employing Timothy Suckow as the hit man both times. A plea agreement sets a maximum term of imprisonment at 40 years, with a lifetime of supervised release. There is no minimum sentence in the agreement, meaning defense attorneys could argue for no jail time at a hearing scheduled for Dec. 18. Other conspirators have received sentences between 8 years and 30 years, however. U.S. District Judge Salvador Mendoza, who was sworn in as a federal judge in August 2014, will have the final say on Henrikson’s sentence. Carlile was killed in his South Hill home in December 2013. Henrikson admitted Friday that Clarke was killed in February 2012, but authorities so far have not been able to recover the body. U.S. Attorney Mike Ormsby said after the hearing that Henrikson’s cooperation in locating the body was not a part of the plea deal. But it could help him receive a lesser sentence, Ormsby said. “He knows that,” he added. Jill Williams, Clarke’s mother, said she could not attend Friday’s hearing in Spokane due to a back injury. She was informed of the plea deal Thursday, and said she was shocked. “It’s not justice,” Williams said. “He caused the death of two people. Forty years is not anywhere near enough.” Members of the Carlile family filled the first two rows of the gallery in Mendoza’s courtroom. Elberta Carlile, who called 911 the night Suckow shot and killed her husband, sobbed silently when Henrikson matter-of-factly described his role in the killing.” “I contacted Robert Delao, to contact Tim Suckow, to kill Doug Carlile,” Henrikson said. Carlile family members declined comment after the hearing. Sentencing has been scheduled for Dec. 18. Original story follows: After several botched attempts, Todd Bates pleaded guilty to charges stemming from his involvement with James Henrikson, the man investigators believe ordered the Spokane killing of Doug Carlile in 2013. “I just think that it’s too late now,” Bates, clad in a white Spokane County Jail jumpsuit and leg irons, said as members of Carlile’s family looked on. “I’m a man of God, and I believe that the truth shall set you free.” The plea agreement with federal prosecutors calls for eight years and four months in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Bates pleaded guilty to purchasing pure heroin in Chicago for Henrikson, and soliciting a hitman nicknamed “The Wiz” to kill Jed McClure for $25,000 at Henrikson’s direction. Bates told U.S. District Court Judge Salvador Mendoza he traveled to Chicago and gave the would-be hitman $10,000 as a down payment for the job. The man never intended to kill McClure, and took no steps to do so, intending instead to rob Bates, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Jones. “He said it was the easiest $10,000 he ever made,” Jones said. Bates said he also traveled to the “south projects” of Chicago and bought pure heroin at the direction of Henrikson and Robert Delao, another man indicted in the conspiracy. “We were going to go from this, to 100 kilos,” Bates said. Henrikson is scheduled to appear later this afternoon to change his plea on charges he ordered the death of Carlile and Kristopher “K.C.” Clarke, a former employee on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. Clarke’s body has not been recovered. Bates had previously attempted to plead guilty when Delao, Lazaro Pesina, Robby Wahrer and Timothy Suckow pleaded guilty to charges last week, but Mendoza rejected those attempts. Bates looked at Mendoza as he delivered his version of events, after it appeared he was reading from a document. Mendoza told Bates he didn’t want him to read anything.