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Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Threatened to stab wife, kill children
Nicholas Finch plead not guilty during his arraignment hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 4.
REARDAN - A Reardan man accused of threatening to kill his family and attempting to commit arson pleaded not guilty during his arraignment in Lincoln County Superior Court on Tuesday, February 4.
Nicholas Gene Finch, 39, remained handcuffed during the proceedings and did not object to the restraints.
Superior Court Judge Adam Walser confirmed that Finch met the qualifications for a public defender, and Finch requested a court-appointed attorney. The prosecution asked for a domestic violence no-contact order and requested that the previously set $20,000 bail remain in place.
"Your honor, we are asking for a release today. We have no objection with the contact order, and he has a grandmother he can stay with," said defense attorney Iverson.
"There is a history of warrants, and I will issue the DV no-contact order," Walser said.
Finch's trial is scheduled for March 19 at 9 a.m., with a readiness hearing set for February 18 at 10:30 a.m. He remains subject to a $20,000 bail and a no-contact order.
Finch was charged with felony harassment with a threat to kill and attempted first-degree arson after authorities reviewed disturbing text messages detailing his alleged intent.
According to court records, a Lincoln County patrol deputy was dispatched on January 26 at 9:08 p.m. to a residence on Whispering Pines Drive, just north of Reardan, after a report of threats.
The reporting party, Megan Edgerton, informed 911 that she had received alarming threats via phone and text messages.
Later that night, at 10 p.m., Andrew Nilles contacted the sheriff's office regarding Finch. Nilles reported that he had spoken with Finch earlier that evening and that Finch had explicitly stated his intent to kill his wife and children.
Nilles voluntarily turned over his phone to law enforcement, allowing deputies to review text messages sent by Finch. In the messages, Finch reportedly wrote:
"My kids don't matter. Nothing matters."
"I'll kill this whole house full of people then burn it down-kids and all."
Additionally, Finch allegedly told Nilles that he planned to stab his wife while she was asleep.
During his transport to jail, Finch reportedly told the arresting deputy that he had not taken his medication for the past several days and stated, "You can't arrest me for murder because I haven't murdered anyone."
Olivia Harnack is the award-winning managing editor/photographer/videographer/columnist at the Lincoln County Record-Times, with offices in both Davenport and Odessa, Wash. She is a University of Idaho graduate and a U.S. Army National Guardsman.
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