Records request of potential Sorger witness denied

Juvenile told police he talked to Sorger before he died

EPHRATA — Another child told police that he talked to Craig Sorger before he died, and a Grant County Judge denied a request this week to obtain that boy's school and juvenile detention center records.

Superior Court Judge Ken Jorgensen denied the request Tuesday, made by Evan Savoie's attorneys in the case. Jorgensen also denied a request Tuesday to bring in a clinical psychologist to talk to the juvenile.

Savoie and Jake Eakin have been charged with first-degree murder in Sorger's death. The 13-year-old died from multiple stab wounds in Oasis Park on Feb. 15, 2003. Eakin and Savoie were both 12-years-old at the time of Sorger's death, and have both denied committing the crime.

According to documents recently filed in Savoie's case, the boy gave a statement to the Ephrata Police Department in September 2004 that he allegedly spoke to Sorger before his death.

C.E. Monty Hormel, co-counsel for Savoie, argued in court documents that they were not notified of the child's statement until January. Hormel made requests this month for the boy's records from the Ephrata School District and Grant County Juvenile Detention Center.

Hormel said in court documents that information "suggests that this witness has a history of assaults with at least one serious felonious assault resulting in his being sentenced to the Echo Glen Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration Facility."

Hormel also states in court documents that the defense has been informed that the witness is "mentally or emotionally troubled and is possibly on prescription drug medication for that reason."

Hormel requested the services of Spokane clinical psychologist Dr. E. Clay Jorgensen to evaluate information about the witness and to prepare for possible testimony for the defense. Judge Jorgensen denied Hormel's motion Tuesday, and also denied a motion to extend the cut-off date for disclosure of expert witnesses to March 1.

Savoie co-counsel Randy Smith said Thursday that they are planning at this point on calling the juvenile as a witness. Smith said statements made by the juvenile lead them to believe that he may be a suspect in the case.

Prosecutor Edward Owens said that with the information received from the juvenile, the state does not plan to call him as a witness. Owens, however, did not rule out the possibility of the boy being called by the state as a witness in the future.

Eakin defense attorney Alan White could not comment on whether his side was planning to call the juvenile as a witness.

Judge Jorgensen denied a motion by Eakin's defense attorneys Tuesday that would compel the production of files of private investigator Charles Schlesinger.

White said this week that defense attorneys wanted the reports so that they can compare to reports they already have.

Eakin and Savoie are scheduled to go to trial separately on April 12, but Jorgensen will hear arguments Monday on whether or not to join the two cases for trial.

The two boys are being tried as adults in the case. The State Supreme Court said Wednesday that they will not hear a motion for discretionary review that would have determined whether they would have been tried as juveniles.