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Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Yelm man’s conviction upheld
DAVENPORT — A Yelm man appeared in Lincoln County Superior Court on Tuesday, Oct. 29, for a resentencing hearing on 17 felony convictions.
Erik Norman Skau, 44, of Yelm, was previously convicted on 17 felonies after he burglarized a Grand Coulee home on Nov. 4 or 5, 2021.
The convictions included crimes of first-degree burglary, first-degree malicious mischief, first-degree theft, two counts of theft of a motor vehicle and 12 counts of theft of a firearm.
According to court records, Skau allegedly used a sledgehammer to break into the home of Arthur Kuehn and steal guns, a fishing boat, two ATVs, a Weed Eater, a compressor, two downriggers and fishing gear.
Police found DNA with an 84% match to Skau at the crime scene, records show. Investigators tracked to Skau to his Yelm home, obtained a search warrant and located the stolen boat and Weed Eater.
During an interview, Skau told police he purchased the boat and other items, records show. But the court found Skau guilty in the thefts.
After those convictions, he was sentenced individually for the crimes.
Through an attorney, Skau appealed the convictions and the sentences, claiming he was deprived of counsel and the court refused to admit his exonerating evidence. He also alleged the prosecuting attorney shifted the burden of proof in the case.
After reviewing the case, a state appellate court affirmed the convictions, but sent the case back to Lincoln County Superior Court for resentencing, because the multiple convictions stemmed from a single burglary.
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.
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