![]() Shaver’s motion contains more than 2,000 pages of trial transcripts, notes, police reports, crime scene photos and witness information. Prosecutor Joe Brusic, who stands behind Salas’ conviction, asked the Washington State Patrol to look into the issues raised by Shaver when she filed the motion seeking a new trail.īrusic worked as a deputy prosecutor in the juvenile division when Salas’ case was moved from Juvenile Court to Superior Court.ĭeputy Prosecutor Bret Roberts is representing the state in the current matter. Rivard has declined to comment on the matter. Shaver has filed motions in Yakima County Superior Court seeking a new trial and to question Rivard under oath. Salas is seeking to obtain critical information about this undisclosed evidence from the one person at its core – Jim Rivard.” “Now, 25 years into a 33-year prison sentence, Mr. Salas’ trial attorney, it would have overwhelmingly proved his innocence,” Shaver said. Rivard said he returned to his office where the informant happened to be and identified Salas from the photo he just took, according to police reports.Īrreola’s girlfriend, Ofelia Gonzalez – the only eyewitness to the shooting – identified Salas as the shooter from a photo lineup at the department, police reports said.Īlthough police recommended charges of rendering criminal assistance against Gonzalez, that and other information was kept from the defense attorney, Shaver said. Later, Rivard photographed Salas with a Polaroid camera when he was questioned at the police department on another matter. Rivard said an informant claimed he overheard a kid bragging about shooting Arreola. Police reports outline how Salas became a suspect six months after Arreola’s death. Jim Rivard was the lead investigator on the case. Shaver says Salas didn’t receive a fair trial because crucial evidence that would have proven his innocence wasn’t presented. Salas, 15 at the time, was tried as an adult and sentenced just days after his 16th birthday. 14, 1995, shooting death of Jose Arreola, also known as Bugs.īoth had gang ties, but there was no beef between them, Salas told police. ![]() Salas was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to nearly 33 years in prison for the Nov. “I know a lot of people know about it, but I want a lot more people to know about it,” she said of the effort. Salas’ sister, Debbie Salas, said family planned the rally around a court hearing initially scheduled for Friday, but it was postponed. She questions the integrity of the investigation and trial that led to his conviction. The rally was in support of efforts seeking a new trial for Salas, who says he’s innocent.Įverett-based attorney Laura Shaver believes him. They all wore T-shirts calling for Salas to be freed from prison. They waved signs saying “Free Evaristo Salas Jr” and “Justice for Evaristo Salas Jr.” Two people held a large banner featuring Salas’ picture and conveying the same message. Troopers said everyone was wearing seat belts, and attributed the crash to improper lane use by Taft.Family and friends – about two dozen in all – gathered Friday in front of the Yakima County Courthouse in support of a man who has spent nearly 25 years in prison for a murder he says he didn’t commit. when full traffic flow was restored, according to Washington State Department of Transportation spokesperson Meagan Lott. The Ford’s driver, 22-year-old Israel Esquivel of Mattawa, was taken to MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital, but his condition was not immediately available. Benson of Graham, were pronounced dead at the scene, the release said. Taft and his passenger, 23-year-old Savannah R. Taft lost control of his 2007 Kia Rio and went into the eastbound lane, where he collided with a 2020 Ford F-350 that was pulling a stock trailer, the release said. about 4 miles west of the junction with State Route 410 when he tried to pass another vehicle, according to a Washington State Patrol news release. Taft, 23, of Yakima was driving west on U.S. YAKIMA – Two people were killed in a head-on crash Thursday afternoon that closed U.S.
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