Blakely gets 35 years

Man convicted in murder-for-hire plot

EPHRATA — Ralph Howard Blakely won't be eligible for release from prison until he is 104 years old.

The 69-year-old man convicted of plotting to hire the death of his ex-wife and daughter from an Airway Heights jail cell was sentenced Tuesday to 35 years in prison for the crime.

A jury convicted Blakely March 10 on two counts of criminal solicitation of first-degree murder for attempting to hire fellow inmate Robbie Juarez to kill his ex-wife Yolanda Blakely and daughter Lorene Blakely.

Juarez testified earlier this month that Ralph Blakely made the offer while the two were serving time together at the Airway Heights Corrections Center in Spokane County in 2003. Juarez said Ralph Blakely offered to pay him $40,000 per person to kill Yolanda and Lorene Blakely.

The sentence came after Grant County Prosecuting Attorney John Knodell argued that Ralph Blakely was a danger to society, citing a criminal history dating back to 1954.

"I just don't think there is a possibility for rehabilitation, particularly at this stage of his life," Knodell said.

Knodell also argued that a fine should be imposed in the case. Ralph Blakely's money is tied up in trust accounts. Defense attorney Robert Cossey said he wasn't sure how much money was in those accounts, but did say that some of that money would be needed for an appeal in the case.

In sentencing Ralph Blakely to a total of 420 months for the crime, Grant County Superior Court Judge Evan Sperline also imposed a fine of $10,000 for each count.

With administrative court costs included, Ralph Blakely was given a total fine of approximately $21,000. He was also sentenced to community custody for a period of 24 to 48 months on each count following his release from prison.

Cossey contested that his client is 69 years old and told the court of Ralph Blakely's deteriorating health. Cossey argued before sentencing that absent any appeal, Ralph Blakely would spend the rest of his life in prison.

"Even the minimum range is going to be a life sentence," Cossey told the court.

Despite his conviction, Ralph Blakely attested as he did during this month's trial that he was not guilty of the crime. When offered the chance to speak before his sentencing, he again denied that he offered Robbie Juarez money to kill his ex-wife and daughter.

"I'm innocent," he told the court just before his sentencing. "I'm the victim of a malicious scam."

Charges were filed against Ralph Blakely last year after Juarez went to Grant County Sheriff's Detective David Matney about the offer. Aided by Matney, Juarez wrote a series of letters to Ralph Blakely at the corrections center. Juarez testified that in exchange for his help, he had some burglary charges reduced to criminal trespassing charges.

Ralph Blakely later responded to the letters, and in doing so gave the address of Yolanda and Lorene.

Ralph Blakely testified earlier this month that he did not intend for Juarez to harm his family, and told the court that Juarez was only going to pay them a friendly visit. Juarez testified that he had no intention of committing the crime, saying that the situation was a way for him to get some money from Ralph Blakely.

Ralph Blakely has 30 days to appeal the sentence, and Cossey said Tuesday that he would aid his client in the appeals process. His appeal of his previous conviction for kidnapping and assault resulted in a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in his favor.

The high court ruled last year that Ralph Blakely should not have received a sentence beyond the standard range for a 1998 incident where he was convicted of kidnapping Yolanda Blakely from the family orchard near Royal City at knife point. He then drove her to Montana in a wooden box in the back of a pickup truck.

Ralph Blakely was also convicted of assaulting his son in that case. Sperline sentenced Ralph Blakely to 90 months in prison for the crime, beyond the standard midrange of 49 to 53 months.

Although Ralph Blakely has a previous criminal record, only the 1998 kidnapping and assault charge counted towards his sentence in the murder-for-hire case. Ralph Blakely was sentenced to 240 months on one count and 180 months on the other in the case.