Eakin, Savoie to be tried as adults

State supreme court denies to hear motion in Ephrata murder case

EPHRATA — The trial of two boys accused of murdering a 13-year-old boy will continue as scheduled in Grant County.

According to attorneys in the case, a Washington Supreme Court commissioner has said the court will not hear a defense motion for discretionary review. The decision means that Jake Eakin, 14, and Evan Savoie, 14, will be charged as adults for first-degree murder.

Eakin and Savoie have been accused of beating and stabbing Craig Sorger to death on Feb. 15, 2003 in Oasis Park. The two were 12 years old when Sorger was murdered, and both have denied committing the crime. Eakin and Savoie remain in custody at the Grant County Juvenile Detention Center.

Superior Court Judge John Antosz made a decision to try the two boys as adults, following an eight-day declination hearing in March.

Savoie co-counsel Randy Smith said that following the decision by the state supreme court, his case has two avenues with which to take the case.

Smith said his case could file a motion to have the state reconsider the case, or they could file a writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court. A writ of certiorari is filed by a losing group, to ask the court to review the decision of a lower court.

Smith said that he and his co-counsel have not yet made a decision on what to do in the case.

Grant County Prosecutor Edward Owens said Thursday that the case will continue as scheduled. Eakin and Savoie are scheduled to stand trial April 12.

"We're just chugging along," Owens said, "trying to get ready for trial."

Eakin and Savoie are scheduled to go to trial separately, but Grant County Superior Court Judge Ken Jorgensen will hear arguments Monday on whether or not to join the two cases for trial.