Woman’s bail raised to $150,000 for alleged role in Pasco death

A Spokane woman accused of helping lure a Pasco man to his death in December was trying to find legitimate work when she was arrested in Idaho, her attorney said Friday.

Craig Stilwill, in arguing to keep Mary A. Faucett out of custody, denied that his client was involved in a prostitution ring.

But Judge Robert Swisher ruled that Faucett’s arrest last month at an Idaho casino was enough to revoke her release and set a higher bail at $150,000.

Faucett, 26, was still in the Franklin County jail as of Friday evening. She had been out of custody since posting bond on $40,000 bail in February for the Franklin County Superior Court case.

She’s charged with conspiracy, first-degree rendering criminal assistance and making false or misleading statements to a public servant in relation to the Dec. 3 death of Lorenzo “Richie” Fernandez Jr.

Swisher noted that Faucett’s conditions of release included not traveling outside Eastern Washington and not violating any laws. She signed the document agreeing to those conditions, but proceeded to violate them.

Prosecutors allege Faucett approached Fernandez in a convenience store hours before his death and got his phone number, then called him that night to get together with her.

Fernandez, 22, of Pasco, drove to the meeting spot at a Road 68 apartment complex, where he was shot dead while he sat in his car.

Faucett’s husband, Kenyatta K.E. Bridges, and their friend DeShawn Anderson have been charged with killing Fernandez. The death reportedly was part of an ongoing gang feud.

After the shooting, Faucett traveled with Bridges and Anderson out of the area to dispose of evidence, court documents said.

Her trial is scheduled July 29.

Faucett was one of eight women arrested on suspicion of prostitution following a two-day sting in April by several law enforcement agencies at the Coeur d’Alene Casino. A Richland man also was arrested on suspicion of solicitation of prostitution.

On Friday, Franklin County Deputy Prosecutor Brian Hultgrenn said Faucett’s previous low bail was a privilege and she had proven that she was not amenable to release.

Hultgrenn said it was “just too big a risk” to leave Faucett out on $40,000 bail because as her legal troubles continue to mount, her reasons to run also increase.

Hultgrenn argued that Faucett’s new bail should be consistent with other homicide-related cases, adding that Anderson’s bail is $1 million and Bridges’ is $500,000. He recommended $250,000 because Faucett has voluntarily shown up for her court dates.

Stilwill said his client does not intend to flee the jurisdiction and should be trusted to wear a monitoring bracelet with only a slight bump in bail to $60,000 or $75,000.

Faucett is trying to support the couple’s children and maintain their household while her husband is locked up, and because of all that has found it “difficult to apply for mainstream jobs,” Stilwill said.

“She was in Idaho attempting to get work, and I will say that the work she was attempting to do was not prostitution,” the attorney said, adding that Coeur d’Alene is just over a half-hour drive from Faucett’s home.

Faucett had hoped to remain free until May 12 while she comes up with the new bond amount, but Swisher denied the request and immediately sent her to jail.

This story was originally published May 8, 2015 at 10:41 AM with the headline "Woman’s bail raised to $150,000 for alleged role in Pasco death."