Blakely takes stand in trial

Charged with criminal solicitation of murder

EPHRATA — Ralph Howard Blakely took the stand Wednesday, in the final day of witness testimony in the case against him.

Blakely has been charged with two counts of criminal solicitation of first-degree murder, after allegedly making an offer to a fellow inmate to kill his ex-wife and daughter.

The 69-year-old Blakely was the final witness to take the stand, and again denied that he asked Robbie Juarez to kill his ex-wife Yolanda Blakely and daughter Lorene Blakely. Ralph Howard Blakely had been serving a sentence for a case that involved kidnapping his wife in 1998.

Hard of hearing, Ralph Howard Blakely has spent the trial aided by a headset to hear questions from his attorney Robert Cossey. Cossey and Grant County Prosecutor John Knodell both questioned Ralph Howard Blakely when he took the stand.

Juarez also testified Wednesday. He told the jury how he met Ralph Howard Blakely, and how he continued to talk to him when they were both serving at the Airway Heights Corrections Center in 2003. Upon his later release, Juarez also told how he went to authorities about Ralph Howard Blakely after he faced new charges himself.

Juarez testified that Ralph Howard Blakely had made him an offer of $40,000 to kill Yolanda Blakely, and an additional $40,000 to kill Lorene Blakely.

"I asked him why he would do something like that, and he said she turned on him," Juarez testified, responding on how Ralph Howard Blakely said his wife had testified against him.

While on the stand Ralph Howard Blakely said that Juarez continually brought up the subject of his wife, a subject Ralph Howard Blakely said he didn't want to talk about.

Ralph Howard Blakely also testified that he gave Juarez the address of Lorene Blakely in a letter, but said that Juarez had only planned to pay the family a friendly visit. Ralph Howard Blakely denied offering Juarez the money to kill his wife, but testified that Juarez continually asked for money from Ralph Howard Blakely. Ralph Howard Blakely said Juarez had told him about a good lifestyle Ralph Howard Blakely could have in Mexico.

Juarez eventually did go to law enforcement, after he was being charged in Grant County with burglary after being released from Airway Heights. As part of his cooperation with authorities, Juarez's sentence was reduced in that case.

The investigation into Ralph Howard Blakely began after Juarez, with the aid of Grant County Sheriff's Detective Dave Matney, sent a series of letters to Ralph Howard Blakely at Airway Heights. Ralph Howard Blakely testified that he wrote back to Juarez to appease him and his requests for money, and did not intend for Juarez to commit the murders.

Juarez also testified that Matney and Knodell talked to him several times before initializing an investigation into the case.

"I was looking at a pretty significant charge," Juarez said, "they wanted to make sure I wasn't B.S.-ing them for a free ticket."

Juarez said he had no intention of committing the crime, but said it was a scheme for him to get some money from Ralph Howard Blakely.

"I wanted to talk him into giving me some money," Juarez said.

Juarez said that he did take Ralph Howard Blakely seriously. He testified that Ralph Howard Blakely didn't care how Yolanda and Lorene Blakely died, he just wanted them gone.

"He was kind of cautious, Juarez said of Ralph Howard Blakely, "I mean he gave me everything in bits and pieces."

While on the stand, Ralph Howard Blakely said there were good times but no bad times in his marriage to Yolanda Blakely. The two married in 1973, when she was approximately 20 years his junior. Ralph Howard Blakely testified that his relationship with Yolanda was average, and he was often away to take care of the family assets.

"I had to take care of the security for several different properties," Ralph Howard Blakely said, "so I spent very little time at home."

Ralph Howard Blakely also answered questions about family litigation and his divorce. He responded to Knodell's questions, saying that he thought his family was greedy and disloyal following the litigation.

Ralph Howard Blakely denied Knodell's questions that he physically assaulted his wife and children, but did admit to disciplining them by pulling them by their hair.

One other witness called by the defense Wednesday was Paul Cross, who served time in the Grant County Jail with Juarez and Ralph Howard Blakely. Cross testified that Juarez asked him if it was all right for Juarez to scam Ralph Howard Blakely. Cross testified that Juarez told him that if Ralph Howard Blakely didn't follow through with the plan that Juarez would report it to the authorities. Deputy prosecutor Stephen Scott asked Cross if he was concerned about Ralph Howard Blakely, why didn't he report it to authorities Cross responded that it was not the way he worked.

Ralph Howard Blakely was serving a sentence for kidnapping and assault that stemmed from a 1998 incident where he he kidnapped Yolanda Blakely, put her in a wooden box and transported her to Montana. The case also involved Ralph Howard Blakely assaulting his son Ralphie. The United States Supreme Court ruled last year that Ralph Howard Blakely should not have received a sentence beyond the statutory minimum for the crime.

Jury deliberations are expected to start in the trial today. Judge Evan Sperline excused one juror from the proceedings Wednesday, after he notified the court that he had overheard portions of a conversation between witnesses in the case.