NEWS-TIMES WHIDBEY
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2011 | Vol. 120, No. 95 | WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM | 75¢
Inside: Community Thanksgiving proves popular. A13
Accused grandfather killer receives a ‘standby attorney’ By JESSIE STENSLAND Staff reporter
Nathan Whalen/Whidbey News-Times
Larry Stiles of Sedro-Woolley and Bill Langjahr of Anacortes, members of Anacortes Radio Control Sailors, race model sailboats at Cranberry Lake inside Deception Pass State Park. They are among the many people who purchase a Discover Pass to use the state park system.
Parks $10 pass falls short By NATHAN WHALEN Staff reporter
With taxpayer funding for state parks dried up, worried state parks officials are seeing user fees aren’t bringing in as much money as expected. Five months after it was implemented, the Discover Pass, which provides money for Washington State Parks, the Department of Fish
and Wildlife and the Department of Natural Resources, raised $7.2 million through the end of October. For the 24-month 2011-2013 biennium, officials had penciled in $64 million in Discover Pass sales, so the pass is not keeping pace with anticipations. Deception Pass Park Ranger Jack Hartt admits the money raised from the Discover Pass isn’t enough to
keep the park system functioning at its current level. The state parks commission is meeting Dec. 6 to discuss and approve possible additional cutbacks that could begin in January or February. “Everything is on the table,” Hartt said. “Nothing is sacred except for keeping parks open.” He said the park system could SEE PASS, A4
Joshua Lambert will continue acting as his own attorney in defending himself against accusations that he murdered both of his grandfathers, but now he’ll have a defense attorney to advise him about matters of law. In addition, the 30-year-old Oak Harbor man agreed to a mental health evaluation by doctors at Western State Hospital in connection with his announced plans to mount an insanity defense. During the unusual hearing in Island County Superior Court Monday, Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks asked Judge Vickie Churchill to appoint a standby counsel to work with Lambert, who has insisted on representing himself. While there’s normally an adversarial relationship between prosecution and defense, Banks said he’s been in an awkward position with Lambert asking him for legal help. “It puts me in a difficult position anytime I have to advise Mr. Lambert on anything,” he said. Banks indicated that Lambert has asked him for information which gives away his defense strategy. He said Lambert is struggling
Joshua Lambert somewhat with legal procedures. “I can see now where this thing will head,” he said. Churchill agreed with Banks and appointed public defense attorney Peter Simpson as Lambert’s standby attorney. She questioned Lambert about the idea; he said he didn’t object as long as he’s still in charge of the case. Banks also made a motion for Lambert to get a mental health evaluation at Western State Hospital. He indicated that it will SEE LAMBERT, A4
Barefoot Bandit makes tracks for Island County By JESSIE STENSLAND Staff reporter
The date for the so-called Barefoot Bandit to appear in Island County Superior Court has finally been set. Colton Harris-Moore, a 20-year-old Camano Island resident, is scheduled to appear in court Friday, Dec. 16, to enter 30 guilty pleas for crimes he allegedly committed in three counties. Under the plea bargain, the internationally famous burglar and thief could be free when he’s 26 years old, provided he behaves himself
in prison. Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks said he will ask the judge to impose a sentence of nine years and four months in prison, though Harris-Moore’s attorneys will ask for less. The sentence is based on the standard range for the most serious charge against Harris-Moore, which is first-degree burglary out of Snohomish County. Because of a complication due to an unresolved case in juvenile court, Harris-Moore won’t start serving his state sentence until he turns 21 on March 22.
Harris-Moore has already pleaded guilty to seven federal criminal charges in U.S. District Court in Seattle, though he hasn’t been sentenced yet. Banks indicated it appears likely that the federal sentence will run concurrent, or at the same time, as the state sentence, but it will ultimately be up to the federal judge. Banks indicated that Harris-Moore will be eligible for “good time” in prison. If he follows the rules, his sentence could be reduced by 30 percent. The Island County
Sheriff’s Office is expecting a media circus at the sentencing hearing. Detective Ed Wallace, the department’s spokesman, sent out a press release to news organizations Monday afternoon, explaining the courtroom protocol. A secondary viewing room is being set up with a live stream from the courtroom. Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks has been brokering a plea bargain to resolve about 30 charges against Harris-Moore in Island, Snohomish and San Juan counties. He originally expected the hearing to take
place last summer, but the date was continually pushed back because of difficulty finding a day when everyone involved could be in court. Harris-Moore made international news in a crime spree that began after he escaped from a halfway house and returned to Camano Island to burglarize and steal. He evaded capture for months and then moved to other counties, where his fame grew after he allegedly stole boats and small airplanes. Harris-Moore, who allegedly committed at least one burglary while barefoot,
was finally arrested in the Bahamas in 2010. He reportedly fled the United States in a plane stolen in Indiana. Harris-Moore agreed to sell his story to a movie company for $1.3 million, but his victims — including Island County government — will get the money under the plea deal in federal court.