Romig sues Marchers

EPHRATA - A former Grant County sheriff's deputy is suing the man convicted of shooting him in the back.

Earl and Tami Romig filed a civil lawsuit in Grant County Superior Court against Robbie Joe Marcher and his father, Carl Marcher claiming the men were negligent when they went to a nearby orchard so Carl Marcher could hunt.

The civil suit follows a jury's conviction of Robbie Joe Marcher, 40, Moses Lake, of assault in the second degree, unlawful hunting of big game in the second degree and failure to summon assistance after a two-week trial in 2009.

Earl Romig was hunting for coyotes in a field near Soap Lake on Jan. 10, 2008, while he was off duty. When he started to leave, he heard a sound like "an angry bee" approaching him and a loud snap, the former deputy said during the criminal trial. His shirt buckled in front of him and he collapsed.

When he looked for where the shot came from, Earl Romig reported he saw a guy standing there and walking off.

Detectives tracked Carl Marcher back to his residence after receiving a list of people allowed to participate in a "damage" hunt in the orchard, Carl Marcher was one of the people allowed to participate in the hunt, according to court records. Carl Marcher reportedly admitted to taking his son when he went hunting that day.

Robbie Joe Marcher told police he fired a rifle at what he thought was a coyote, Washington State Patrol Detective Tom Hickman testified, adding Robbie Joe Marcher said he didn't check if he hit the coyote.

The Romigs' attorneys claim Robbie Joe Marcher was a convicted felon at the time of the shooting and shouldn't have been in possession of a gun. They also claim Carl Marcher was negligent in allowing his son access to the rifle.

The Romigs are asking for compensation and special damages.