Friday, Oct. 10, 2008

Pasco man held for lying to state trooper, false ID

By Kristin M. Kraemer, Herald staff writer

A 45-year-old Pasco man with a lengthy criminal history faces a Dec. 8 trial on charges he gave a state trooper a fake name because he was driving without a valid license.

Ronald Steven Law pleaded innocent to possession of methamphetamine, first-degree driving with a suspended license and making a false or misleading statement to a public servant.

He is being held on $7,500 bail.

Law, whose bail initially was set at $10,000, had asked to get out so he could care for his mother following his father's recent death.

But Mitchell cited Law's 16 prior felony convictions -- three just last year -- in keeping bail set.

Washington State Patrol Trooper Chris Thorson was out on patrol Oct. 3 when Law allegedly committed two traffic infractions in front of the officer.

Law had stopped his car near an acquaintance when Thorson approached him and asked for identification. Law said he didn't have any and gave the name of Timothy R. Law, 49, court documents said.

"The trooper could tell based on his body language that the defendant was lying," documents said. That's when Thorson asked the acquaintance for his real name, and she responded, "Ron."

Once Thorson learned Ronald Law's real name, Law admitted his license was suspended, court documents said.

As he was being searched, Law "suddenly twisted away and threw a metal tin onto the ground," documents said. The tin allegedly held three baggies, one containing methamphetamine.