Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Banko held in county jail on $100,000 bail
ODESSA — A local man is being held in the Lincoln County Jail in Davenport after allegedly threatening to shoot another man, cut his head off and put in on a fence post.
Arthur James Banko, 68, of Odessa, is being held on $100,000 bail following a Sept. 3 arraignment for felony harassment-threat to kill in Lincoln County Superior Court. In addition, he is charged with exhibiting/displaying/carrying a weapon with intent to intimidate and violation of an anti-harassment protection order.
Another hearing in the case has been set for 10:30 a.m. Sept. 10.
Banko was booked into the jail Aug. 29 after being arrested by Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office deputy Derek Edwards.
The arrest stemmed from an Aug. 12 incident in which deputies were alerted to Banko’s statements in a video.
The 3 minute 48 second video shows Banko admitting to screaming at Kelly Watkins, records show. Banko also said the video that Watkins should “kill himself and save me the trouble.”
Moreover, in the video, Banko threatened to shoot Watkins, cut his head off and put it on a fence post, records show.
Records show the video show Banko stating he went to the victim’s home and banged on the door.
“Just watch the paper, it’s going to be a hoot,” Banko said on the video.
Following an investigation in to the video and statements allegedly made by Banko, deputies arrested the Odessa man Aug. 29.
In addition to the $100,00 bail, a no-contact order was issued by the court, commanding Banko to not communicate or approach Watkins.
If convicted of felony harassment-threat to kill, Banko could face a maximum of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Roger Harnack is the owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
Reader Comments(0)