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KENNEWICK -- A 22-year-old man pleaded innocent Wednesday to allegations that he was high and driving at speeds in excess of 100 mph when his car went into a ravine.
Robert Thomas Bowen is accused of injuring his friend in the March 2 crash, which occurred when Bowen was upset after an apparent fight with his wife.
Bowen, of Benton City, faces trial Oct. 11 in Benton County Superior Court for vehicular assault.
According to court documents, an upset Bowen took off in his car after the fight. Friend Corey Williams went along to try to calm Bowen down.
The car eventually went off the road.
Benton County sheriff's deputies -- responding to an injury crash at North East Roza and Acord roads in Benton City -- found the car about 50 yards down a ravine, court documents said. The car reportedly had significant damage.
Bowen and Williams were treated at a hospital. Williams suffered fractures to his elbow and left foot, along with numerous cuts, documents said.
Blood tests allegedly showed that Bowen was under the influence of marijuana and hydromorphone when he recklessly crashed the car.
Kennewick woman pleads innocent to stealing checks
KENNEWICK -- A Kennewick woman is accused of pocketing about $9,000 in rent checks while working for a Prosser apartment complex.
Rebecca Alice Cates, 43, pleaded innocent to first-degree theft. Her trial is set for Sept. 27.
Cates was an employee at the Prosser Garden Apartments in the first half of 2009. Her duties included overseeing tenant rent.
She was fired in July 2009 after she didn't show up for work, court documents said.
It only was then discovered that several tenants had been giving their checks to Cates, but the money never was deposited into the apartment account, documents said.
The complex called Prosser police to investigate the missing money.
Property owner denies forgery in bid to get rent
PROSSER -- A rental property owner faces trial Sept. 20 for allegedly forging a court document in her attempt to collect from a tenant.
Cynthia Diane Goldberg, 39, pleaded innocent to forgery.
Goldberg is the sole owner of Blue Ribbon Professional Office Services, according to Washington Department of Revenue business records.
She owns several rental properties, court documents said.
Prosecutors allege that in early May, a Pasco tenant who was behind on the rent got a visit from Goldberg. The 52-year-old resident was handed a small-claims court document and told she was being taken to court.
The tenant called the Benton County District Court clerk's office to find out her court date and was told there was no such case in the system, according to documents.
The matter was handed over to Benton County sheriff's Detective Scott Runge, who discovered that Judge Joe Burrowes' signature had allegedly been forged.
The judge's last name also was misspelled as "Burrows."
The form also included the name of a nonexistent court clerk.
Goldberg reportedly told the woman that if she paid her the money owed, the court case would be dropped, court documents said.
-- Kristin M. Kraemer: 509-582-1531; kkraemer@tricityherald.com
