Death threat lands local man in jail

EPHRATA - A Moses Lake man convicted of felony harassment was sentenced to eight months in jail.

Luke Mickle, 29, allegedly threatening to kill a neighbor and burn his house down in February.

Moses Lake police were dispatched to a physical disturbance in progress where they found Mickle at a Columbia Avenue home and detained him for questioning.According to the victim's statement, Mickle approached him and allegedly called him a racial slur.

Mickle then reportedly stepped inside the victim's gate and tried to punch him.

The victim said he dodged Mickle's punch and struck him in the face, knocking him out.

According to the police report, after Mickle came to, he got up and allegedly attempted to attack the victim with a knife, but was knocked out again.

When Mickle finally left the victim's property he allegedly said that he was going to kill him and his "family" was going to burn down his house.

The victim said that he went inside, grabbed his shotgun and called 9-1-1.

While on the phone, the victim reportedly observed Mickle walking back toward his residence with a whiskey bottle in one hand and his other hand in his pocket, allegedly holding something.

The victim stated if Mickle came onto his property he would have to shoot him and he left without incident, according to court documents.

Mickle was transported to Grant County Jail where he gave a statement to police saying that he reportedly thought the victim was laughing at him and went to confront him.

According to Mickle's statement, the victim allegedly knocked him out twice without provocation. Mickle said that he was returning with the bottle to offer the victim a shot of alcohol. Mickle claimed the victim came outside with his shotgun and allegedly threatened to kill him if he came in his yard.

Mickle also denied ever using a weapon.

The jury returned a guilty verdict after about an hour of deliberation.