Marcher sentenced to more than five years

EPHRATA — Almost two years after Robbie Joe Marcher shot an off-duty sheriff’s deputy, he was sentenced in Grant County Superior Court to more than five years.

Grant County Superior Court Judge John Antosz sentenced Marcher, 40, Moses Lake to a total of five years and three months in prison.

A jury found the man guilty of assault in the second degree, unlawful hunting of big game in the second degree and failure to summon assistance in September.

Marcher shot off-duty sheriff’s deputy Earl Romig on Jan. 10, 2008, in a field near Soap Lake, when the man was returning home from coyote hunting. Marcher walked away after the other man started yelling for help, leaving him in the snow.

Both the victim, Romig and his wife, Tami Romig, spoke in front of a crowded courtroom about their experiences.

Both Earl Romig and Tami Romig spoke about how the shooting changed their lives. Earl Romig spoke about the months of rehabilitation. His wife echoed the sentiments saying Marcher took two years of her life.

“And that’s more than a man like him deserves,” she said. “He took away my chance to be a wife and made me into a nurse.”

She also explained how Marcher hurt both of their families, forcing several of Earl Romig’s friends to watch as the man lay helpless in a field near Soap Lake.

Defense attorney Brett Billingsley explained his client was convicted of a crime of recklessly shooting Earl Romig. He didn’t intentionally shoot the other man.

He also pointed out the man may be different than some people, but it doesn’t make him a loser or evil.

Marcher chose not to speak to the court.

Antosz explained he was limited by the state law about how long he could sentence Marcher, because the state Legislature set maximum limits depending on how many felonies a criminal has. After explaining, he chose to sentence Marcher consecutively on all three charges, putting Marcher’s sentence near the maximum he could receive.