Thumbs Down:A recent case of stalking in South Sound is one of those criminal activities that will send shivers up and down the spines of law-abiding citizens. Royce Baxter, 59, a retired U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employee, pleaded guilty of repeatedly breaking into the home of a former co-worker he was “infatuated” with. Baxter also pleaded guilty under an Alford plea to felony harassment stemming from accusations he had plotted to kill the Thurston County sheriff’s detective who arrested him in connection with the case, as well as the former co-worker’s husband. In an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt but concedes there is enough evidence to convict. As part of Baxter’s plea deal, prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed to a joint recommendation that Baxter serve 15 years in prison. Baxter pleaded guilty to residential burglary with sexual motivation, six counts of residential burglary, felony stalking and felony harassment. He will have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. The arresting deputy found a camera in Baxter’s car that contained photos of the outside and the inside of the victims’ home, as well as women’s underwear. Baxter also had a copy of a key to the victims’ residence. Baxter may have broken into the couple’s home as many as 28 times, court papers state. That’s absolutely terrifying. It’s good to know that Baxter will be spending considerable time behind bars.
Thumbs Up:It’s not uncommon for sorters at Goodwill Industries to find some change or a few bucks in donated items. But Taide Gonzalez was in for the surprise of her life recently when she opened a gray purse and found $38,000 in checks and $1,500 in cash inside. “I’ve never seen a lot of money in my hands before,” said Gonzalez of Wenatchee, who’s worked as a Goodwill pricer and sorter since 2006. She said she immediately took the funds to store manager Darryl Hull, who remembered a woman calling earlier in the day to say she thought she had accidentally left money and checks in some donated items. He called the woman, who quickly came in to retrieve the funds. “She was overcome with joy, about falling down,” he said. The woman’s mother had recently died and the donated items came from her estate, Hull said. Did Gonzalez ever think about keeping the money? “No,” the 27-year-old said. “I think if I ever left some money somewhere, I’d like it if they would give it back to me.” A big thumbs up to Taide Gonzalez and her honesty.
Thumbs Down: What were officials at Washington’s Lottery thinking when they approved the purchase of a $49,000 Mercedes Sprinter van to use as a marketing tool to boost Lottery ticket sales? Don’t they know the Legislature will be back in session next month to rebalance a budget that’s already $1.4 billion out of balance and likely will be $2 billion short by the time lawmakers arrive in Olympia? The agency recently advertised for proposals to outfit the van and decorate it with blazing Lotto logos, turning it into the “Lotto-mobile,” at an additional cost of $75,000. Again, what were Lottery officials thinking? Don’t they realize how this looked to the public who have been told that these are austere times and to expect Draconian budget cuts? Sure, the Lottery has to market its services, but a tricked-out Mercedes-Benz? Really? Is it any wonder Gov. Chris Gregoire immediately ordered the Lottery director to return the van to the dealership? There’s a lesson here for other managers of public coffers.
