EXPERIENCED LEADERSHIP
FOR BENTON COUNTY

I was elected at a turning point. In 2022, crime was out of control, with the highest number of homicides on record. Responding to the needs of the community, I have worked closely with law enforcement, held offenders accountable, supported crime victims and advocated for justice. Crime rates have significantly declined, but this is no time to let up. By prioritizing crime victims and community safety, I have implemented policies to strengthen our response. Criminal behavior requires a swift and decisive response with real consequences. I am honored to play a key role in supporting community safety, and I am proud of the work I have done to keep our community safe.

Aggressive Prosecution - To confront violent crime, I have put policies in place that ensure we charge the highest provable offense justified by the facts, including firearm and deadly weapon enhancements.

Prosecuting Juvenile Gang Violence in Adult Court - I have aggressively moved juvenile cases to adult court to increase the punishment for serious offenses. By charging aggressively, holding offenders on bail, and moving juvenile homicide cases to adult court I have kept dangerous criminals off of our streets.

State v. Mason Ashby - I secured the maximum sentence in the Kamiakin shooting threat case. I believe in safe schools and in doing everything possible to protect our children.

Designated Property Crime Prosecutor - No crime is victimless. I believe property crime deserves serious prosecution, and in response to the needs of the community and law enforcement I appointed a major property crime prosecutor to lead this effort.

Protecting Your Second Amendment Rights - As your county prosecutor, I take my obligation to secure your second amendment rights seriously. I will not prosecute any case that infringes upon your right to keep and bear arms.

Sheriff's Lawsuit - I joined a lawsuit against the State of Washington to defend your constitutional right to independently elect your County Sheriff. The Benton County Sheriff should answer to the people of Benton County, not Olympia.

Clearing Encampments - I worked closely with the Sheriff’s Office to address and remove the trailer and tent encampment near Dallas Road, with the goal of improving safety and quality of life for property owners.

Drug Task Force Prosecutor - From 2005 to 2006, I served as a designated drug task force prosecutor. I took numerous cases to trial and secured lengthy sentences.

Therapuetic Court - For those who want the opportunity to rebuild their lives, I support Veterans Court, Drug Court, Recovery Court, Mental Health Court, and the Columbia Valley Recovery Center. It's my job to send offenders to jail or prison, but I also believe in second chances where it's appropriate if an offender is willing to put in the work.

Fighting for Justice for Benton County

Endorsements

I am endorsed by Sheriff Mike Clark, every mayor in the Tri-Cities and Benton County, and county commissioners.

I am the only conservative candidate for prosecutor endorsed by the Benton County Republican Party.

Elected Officials

Business & Community Leaders

Organizations

COUNTY

Mike Clark, Benton County Sheriff

Bill Leach, Benton County Coroner

Michael Alvarez, Benton County Commissioner

Will McKay, Benton County Commissioner

Ken Spencer, Benton County Treasurer

Rick Corson, Retired Benton County Coroner

Leo Bowman, Retired Benton County Commissioner

TRI-CITIES AND BENTON COUNTY MAYORS

Jason McShane, Kennewick Mayor

Theresa Richardson, Richland Mayor

Fred Brink, West Richland Mayor

Len Burton, Benton City Mayor

Gary Vegar, Prosser City Mayor

Charles Grimm, Pasco Mayor

Gretl Crawford, Former Kennewick Mayor

CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

Brad Beauchamp, Kennewick City Council

Loren Anderson, Kennewick City Council

John Trumbo, Kennewick City Council

Pat Holten, Richland City Council

Ryan Whitten, Richland City Council

David Cole, West Richland City Council

Bill Jenkin, Prosser City Council

Julie Mercer, Prosser City Council

Joe Cotta, Pasco City Council

Abel Campos, Pasco City Council

SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD

Micah Valentine, Kennewick School District

Gabe Galbraith, Kennewick City Council

STATE

Stephanie Barnard, State Representative

Mark Klicker, State Representative

CONGRESSIONAL

Doc Hastings, Retired Congressman

JUDICIAL

Bruce Spanner, Retired Superior Court Judge

Bruce & Lorrie Ratchford, Apollo Mechanical

Ryan & Sarah Ratchford, Apollo Mechanical

Matt & Sarah Deter, Speedy Movers

Bill Lampson, Lampson International

Kate Lampson, Lampson International

Mason & Danielle McCurley, McCurley Dealerships

Doug & Nancy Overturf, Overturf Motors

Bob Tippett, Tippett Company

Tim Bush, Bush Developments

Ty Haberling, HFG Trust

Eric Pearson, HAPO Community Credit Union

Aric Ellison, Paramount Communications

Forrest Alexander, Dual Dessert Wealth Management

Craig Walker, Walker Heye

John Top, Toppenish Livestock Commission

Sean & Renee Mathews, Mathews Dental

Frank Armijo

Harry & Kristin VanDyken

Scott & Sally Fruend

Benton County Republican Party

Tri City Association of Realtors

Republican Liberty Caucus of Benton and Franklin Counties

I am endorsed by Sheriff Mike Clark and

every mayor in the Tri-Cities and Benton County.

I am the only conservative candidate for prosecutor endorsed by the Benton County Republican Party.

A Record of Real Result

Under my leadership, my office has secured numerous convictions resulting in real punishment for criminal offenders, including the following notable trial results.

State v. Brian Wilcox — Murder

Wilcox shot and killed his wife, Kathy Wilcox, in April 2022 and then set their home on fire before fleeing to Oklahoma. A jury convicted him after a November 2023 trial, and Judge Sam Swanberg imposed a prison sentence of 23 years for second degree murder with a firearm enhancement and first degree arson.

State v. Brandon Lamon Jones — Serial Rape/Robbery

Jones was convicted of a series of attacks on women in the Tri-Cities in which he used firearms to threaten the victims. After a three-week trial, a jury convicted him of eleven counts of first-degree rape, six counts of first-degree robbery and four counts of attempted first-degree robbery, and he was sentenced to approximately 226 years in prison.

State v. Jesus Avalos-Chavez — Vehicular Homicide

Avalos-Chavez crossed the center line and struck a Volkswagen head-on, killing 68 year-old Manuel Guajardo Jr. His blood alcohol content was 0.18. A Benton County jury convicted him of vehicular homicide after he represented himself at trial, and he received the maximum possible sentence of 12½ years.

State v. Jokane Riklon — Playground of Dreams Carjacking

Riklon approached a father and his two young daughters at Kennewick’s Playground of Dreams in January 2023, pointed a gun at them and demanded their SUV, leaving the family traumatized. A jury convicted him of first-degree robbery after deliberating for roughly 90 minutes, and Judge Diana Ruff sentenced him to nearly 13 years in prison, exceeding the standard-range maximum because of the impact on the victims.

State v. Anthony Spearman — Murder

Spearman went to 65-year-old Leonard Slack’s Kennewick apartment in August 2021, where Spearman attempted to rob Slack and shot him during a struggle; Spearman claimed self-defense. After an eight-day trial, a jury convicted him of second-degree murder and unlawful firearm possession with a firearm enhancement, and Judge Jacqueline Shea-Brown sentenced him to 34 years in prison.

State v. Antoine “Peanut” Surge — Murder

Surge shot and killed 20-year-old Edree Thompson during an argument outside the Columbia Park Apartments in Richland. A jury convicted Surge of second-degree murder, and because the conviction constituted his third qualifying violent felony, he was sentenced under Washington’s persistent-offender law to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

State v. Richard Jacobson — Aggravated Murder

Jacobson brutally beat and strangled his girlfriend, Brandy Ebanez, in their Kennewick apartment in September 2022 and subsequently disposed of her body in the Columbia River; Ebanez was four or five months pregnant. After six days of testimony from 28 witnesses, a jury deliberated approximately 45 minutes before finding him guilty of aggravated first-degree murder, for which Judge Joe Burrowes imposed the mandatory life sentence without parole.

State v. Mason Ashby — Attempted Murder

Ashby developed a detailed plan to carry out a shooting at Kamiakin High School, including maps of targeted areas and a recorded “dress rehearsal”; the plan was discovered after two boys in Florida reported a TikTok post to authorities, leading to his arrest before the planned attack occurred. He was found guilty of attempted first-degree murder, making threats to bomb/injure property and 11 counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, and Judge Jacqueline Shea-Brown imposed 316 weeks—just over six years—the maximum juvenile sentence.

State v. Abdiel Vargas — Assault/Burglary

Vargas and another man went to a Prosser apartment complex in August 2019 intending to rob someone, but Vargas fired into an apartment, wounding a resident, and then fired approximately 10–20 rounds at responding Prosser police Officer Antonio Bustamante. Vargas pleaded guilty at the beginning of his trial to two counts of first-degree assault and attempted first-degree burglary and was sentenced by Judge David Petersen to 23½ years in prison.