Spokane charges dropped in slaying plea
A man who just had three counts of aggravated murder dismissed against this week also had Spokane County charges dismissed as part of the same deal.
Kevin Harper, 30, had been convicted of three counts of aggravated murder in Yakima County. But before he was charged with that crime, he and his girlfriend drove through the Spokane area and were arrested for property crimes.
Harper was arrested in May 2010 for residential burglary, two counts of second-degree theft and theft of a firearm. Since he was picked up in Kootenai County, he first served time there while Spokane County prosecutors wrote up warrants seeking his arrest upon release from Idaho.
Harper was arraigned on the property crimes in June, 2010, but missed his next court date because he had been charged with the triple slaying in Yakima.
Earlier this week, prosecutors from Yakima called Deputy Spokane County Prosecutor Bob Sargent and asked whether they could negotiate the Spokane County cases. Sargent gave his approval and that was wrapped up in his global plea this week.
Harper, according to media accounts, now faces about seven years in prison while the triple homicide remains unsolved.