Cattle theft, ATM jackpotting and Richland toddler found dead. June crime recap
June brought a wave of serious criminal cases across the Tri-Cities and beyond, from federal sentencings tied to a Venezuelan gang to a road rage plea by a sitting county commissioner.
Here’s a rundown of the top stories our newsroom covered.
Click the links to read the full stories.
Two Venezuelan nationals were sentenced to federal prison for an “ATM jackpotting” conspiracy linked to Tren de Aragua that stole millions across multiple states, including nearly $400,000 from University of Washington ATMs.
A two-alarm fire tore through the notorious “junkyard” house at 2100 Pullen St. in Richland, a property long at the center of a legal battle between the city and owner Taylor Knipp over piles of debris deemed a “clear and present danger.”
Francisco Estrada Jr. pleaded innocent to second-degree assault and unlawful imprisonment charges after allegedly choking his girlfriend at a Richland Motel 6 just a day after her 18-month-old son was found dead in a backyard tent. Police still have not said whether he is a suspect in the toddler’s death.
Pasco man Clemente G. Esquivel was charged with first-degree theft, second-degree extortion and reckless driving after allegedly forcing a semi off Highway 395, stealing a trailer of cattle and demanding $20,000 for their return.
Franklin County Sheriff Jim Raymond avoided jail by returning a $26,000 fingerprint scanner to the county, ending part of a running dispute over equipment tied to the county’s takeover of the jail.
Alden Sanchez Dominguez, 19, pleaded guilty to first-degree assault, robbery, burglary and illegal firearm possession and faces up to 15 years in prison for trying to shoot a pregnant Kennewick barista who fired back in self-defense in February 2025.
West Richland’s Joseph A. Abbott was jailed on suspicion of first-degree assault after allegedly stabbing 23-year-old Ryan J. Kendall at least four times in the chest during a return trip from Northern Quest Casino in June.
Benton County Commissioner Will McKay pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors — fourth-degree assault and lying to police — in a Kennewick parking lot road rage case, a deal that lets him remain in elected office.
Jason S. Ruegsegger, a Kennewick man who had worked part-time as a bus attendant with disabled and special education students in the Kennewick School District, was arrested on suspicion of possessing child sexual abuse material after Google reported uploaded images to authorities.
A 15-year-old Richland boy is charged with first-degree assault in juvenile court after allegedly stabbing a 37-year-old man six times during a fight with the teen’s mother, leaving the victim with a collapsed lung and two lost teeth.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.