INSIDE: First win, last win ... Sports, A7
Record South Whidbey
SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 2013 | Vol. 89, No. 8 | www.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.com | 75¢
Thomas faces 4 years for role in Douglas murder By JESSIE STENSLAND Staff reporter A former beauty queen pleaded guilty to a plea-bargained charge Thursday, less than a week before she was scheduled to go on trial for first-degree murder. Peggy Sue Thomas, 47, will likely face four years in prison when she’s sentenced Feb. 15 in Island County Superior Court. Thomas pleaded guilty to rendering criminal assistance in the first degree, with a special allegation that she or her accomplice was armed with a firearm during the commission of the crime. The firearms allegation adds an automatic three years to the sentence. Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks said in court that the trial posed “a substantial risk” for both the prosecution and defense. He said his case was based on circumstantial evidence and hearsay testimony. The judge had still not ruled on whether the prosecutor would be able to present crucial evidence to the jury, while a vital witness was recently admitted to a hospital. “I believe there are items of evidence that will probably never see the light of day that convinced me my case is just,” he said. Rather than risk an acquittal or a hung jury, Banks agreed to the plea bargain. He said the family of the victim, 32-year-old Russel Douglas, approved of the deal. Thomas appeared glum, but otherwise showed little emotion during the hearing. Her attorney, Craig Platt, chose not to speak about the plea bargain. Banks will recommend that the judge See Thomas, A17
Ben Watanabe / The Record
Peggy Sue Thomas, accused of aiding James Huden in the 2003 murder of Russel Douglas, listens to her attorney Craig Platt at a hearing Jan. 27 in Island County Superior Court.
Port rebuked on taller marina lights idea By BEN WATANABE Staff reporter Rebuking Port of South Whidbey President Curt Gordon’s proposal came in six words from Langley’s planning director, Jeff Arango.
Gordon sought to encourage the worked with former Mayor Larry Langley City Council to amend an Kwarsick to secure boat trailer parkordinance and gain the ability to ing at the school district’s bus lot on install taller lights on its new marina Sixth Street, a future funicular from the harbor to in Langley. Cascade Avenue “We’ve got to and possible work together to overnight parkkeep this thing ing in Mukilteo. going,” Gordon Of the major said. projects, only the Gordon also Jeff Arango Langley city planner Mukilteo parking suggested the lot has not been council approve approved. a variance. L a n g l e y Lights on the remains without current slips are its top adminlimited to 3 feet, as per a city regulation. The taller istrator. In the interim — as the lights, Gordon and port manager city council awaits applications — Ed Field argued, were necessary for Councilman Hal Seligson assumed his role as mayor pro tem. The boats to come in at night. The Port of South Whidbey lead- port’s proposal and update exposed ers attended Langley’s council meet- Langley’s council members as ing Tuesday to continue interagen- a group of landlubbers: Seligson cy communication. Under the city’s previous leadership, port officials See Lights, A17
“That’s completely inappropriate, to be honest.”
Ben Watanabe / The Record
Lanterns like these, about 3 feet tall, light the Langley Marina. Port of South Whidbey leaders want the Langley City Council to consider changing an ordinance to allow for taller lights. “That’s completely inappropriate, to be honest,” Arango told Gordon.
At issue was a quid-pro-quo offer from the Port of South Whidbey.