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KENNEWICK -- A 57-year-old Kennewick man who believed another motorist had cut him off allegedly followed the driver into a parking lot, reached inside the stopped car to threaten the man and then tried to run him over with his truck as the victim sought help.
Orville Thomas Farmer III pleaded innocent Wednesday in Benton County Superior Court to second-degree assault. His trial is set for Nov. 15.
According to court documents, Kennewick police were dispatched to the parking lot near Sears on Sept. 2 for reports of a disturbance in progress.
Officers arrived to find Kerry Hicks, 44, who said the problem started when he was turning into the Columbia Center mall. Farmer no longer was at the scene, but Hicks told police that Farmer apparently became angry because he felt Hicks "cut him off," documents said.
After Hicks parked, Farmer got out of his truck, approached the passenger side of Hicks' vehicle and reached inside the car across the lap of Hicks' wife while pointing at the driver and calling him obscene names, court documents said.
Hicks told officers he was concerned about the safety of his wife and 13-year-old daughter, both in the vehicle, so he drove closer to the mall and parked directly in front of the open garage doors at the Sears automotive department.
Hicks reportedly was going to contact security when he again was confronted. "Farmer grabbed Hicks on the left side of the neck and pushed him, throwing him off balance and causing him to drop his cell phone, which he had in hand to call the police," documents said.
Farmer then allegedly threatened to kick Hicks in the butt and said if he ever saw him again, he would kill him.
Prosecutors allege that after Farmer returned to his truck, he twice accelerated toward Hicks but the victim jumped out of the way each time before being hit.
Farmer then drove away. He has been ordered to have no contact with the Hicks family while the case is pending.
Man, 44, denies hitting, strangling girlfriend
TOPPPENISH -- A Toppenish man is being held on $100,000 bail on allegations he hit his girlfriend in the face with a leaded glass cross and strangled her with a telephone cord.
William Edward Thomas, 44, pleaded innocent to second-degree assault with a domestic violence allegation. Trial is set for Nov. 29.
Richland officers were sent to a McPherson Avenue home Aug. 29 for an alleged assault that reportedly had escalated from a verbal dispute.
The woman told police that Thomas hit her in the head and face with the cross, then grabbed the cord, wrapped it around her neck and began strangling her, court documents said.
Officers reportedly saw bruising on the woman's face and red marks around her neck.
The woman said Thomas was physical with her in the past and that she was afraid for her life, documents said.
Thomas allegedly told her that if she told anyone about the assault, he would kill her. His criminal history includes four convictions for violating a no-contact order and two for fourth-degree assault with domestic violence.
Woman admits using kids to help her steal
KENNEWICK -- A 39-year-old woman admitted to using her three teenage children to help steal items from JCPenney.
Tabitha Ann Sanchez of Moses Lake pleaded guilty to second-degree theft. She was sentenced to four months in jail, and was told she can do 30 days of it on work release in Grant County.
Sanchez's criminal history includes two felony convictions for theft and two for possessing stolen property. She also has 10 prior misdemeanor theft convictions, which include welfare theft and shoplifting, and an additional stolen property possession.
Court documents state that on April 10, Sanchez went into the mall store with her children, ages 15, 16 and 17, and two men.
The group selected multiple items from the store and concealed them in purses and plastic bags, then Sanchez exited JCPenney with her kids, documents said. The stolen merchandise was placed in a vehicle, which reportedly was driven away by the two men.
Tennessee man denies scratching pickup
RICHLAND -- A Tennessee man pleaded innocent to charges he scratched the sides and hood of a 2004 Ford F250 parked at a Richland apartment complex.
Stephen L. Vandergriff, 40, faces trial Nov. 15 for second-degree malicious mischief.
A witness reported seeing Vandergriff use a sharp object to "key" the truck in the George Washington Way complex at 10:30 p.m. Sept. 1, court documents said. The marks stretched completely around the truck and onto the hood.
Damage to the Ford was estimated at $4,000.
The witness identified Vandergriff as the alleged vandal, who was with another man said to be Kevin O. Drumwright, documents said. Both reportedly ran off before police arrived.
Officers found Vandergriff at an apartment where Drum-wright, also of Tennessee, is staying temporarily. Vandergriff was visiting him.
Vandergriff was arrested that night. The following night, police again were called to the apartment complex after another car was damaged.
Drumwright, 30, was arrested on suspicion of causing that vandalism. He has been released from custody and has not yet been charged in the crime.
Man pleads innocent to breaking girlfriend's nose
KENNEWICK -- A 31-year-old man is charged with breaking his girlfriend's nose after coming home drunk.
Cristo Adrian Caballero of Kennewick pleaded innocent to second-degree assault with domestic violence. His trial is scheduled Nov. 1.
Prosecutors allege that on Sept. 2, Caballero returned to his West Grand Ronde Avenue home and broke a window before punching his 29-year-old girlfriend in the face. Caballero also pushed the woman up against the trailer, court documents said.
Kennewick officers found the woman outside a West Entiat Avenue residence with a swollen, black eye and a bloody nose. The victim "was uncooperative about what happened and stated that she had been 'jumped' by three Mexicans," documents said.
The woman was taken to Kennewick General Hospital, where it was discovered that her nose had been fractured.
The investigation led officers to the Grand Ronde home where the woman lived with Caballero in a trailer on the property, court documents said.
Caballero was arrested after admitting he hit his girlfriend, documents said.
He is being held on $10,000 bail.
-- Kristin M. Kraemer: 509-582-1531; kkraemer@tricityherald.com
