By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Prosecutors alleged in Lewis County Superior Court yesterday that murder defendant Ricky A. Riffe raped his 9-year-old step-daughter 28 years ago, filing new charges for a crime that has a possible penalty of life in prison.
Riffe’s attorney is calling it a ploy to smear his client, in a small community that is closely following the news of Riffe’s upcoming double murder trial.
Riffe, 54, was returned to Lewis County from his home in Alaska last summer when Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer charged him in the December 1985 abduction and slaying of Ed and Wilhelmina Maurin, an elderly couple who lived in Ethel.
While not exactly a cold case because Riffe and his now-deceased brother were longtime primary suspects, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with a newly elected prosecutor stepped up a re-investigation, noting that fear of the brothers had kept many witnesses from coming forward when the crimes occurred.
The two men moved to Alaska in 1987, according to the sheriff.
The sheriff’s office has said it believes that on Dec. 19, 1985 the brothers somehow got into the couple’s home, and then forced them to drive to a bank in Chehalis to withdraw $8,500 before shooting them in the backs with a shotgun.
The bodies of the Maurins, Ed, 81 and Wilhelmina, 83, were found on Christmas Eve 1985 dumped off a logging road outside Adna.
Riffe is charged with two counts each of first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and first-degree robbery, as well as one count of burglary.
His trial is scheduled to begin in May and last as long as a month.
Yesterday, in Lewis County Superior Court in Chehalis, Meyer told the judge Riffe is now charged with two incidents of child sex abuse, one from 1984 and the other from 1986.
Judge Richard Brosey read the charges aloud, advised Riffe they are separate from the other matter and that he is presumed innocent. He asked Riffe how he pled.
Defense attorney John Crowley jumped up and objected to the late filing of charges beyond the statute of limitations.
Crowley asked the judge to enter not guilty pleas on behalf of his client, and all agreed to revisit the matter after the murder trial ends.
Meyer, outside the courtroom, said the statute of limitations doesn’t apply because Riffe had left the state.
The allegations were investigated by police at the time and no criminal charges were filed, according to both Meyer and Crowley.
“It was investigated then, it came up again during this investigation,” Meyer said. “We got some new information.”
In Washington, all crimes except murder have a statute of limitations, according to Crowley. It’s a limit on the amount of time that can pass beyond which prosecutors can’t file criminal charges against a person, he said.
Crowley, a Seattle-based attorney, said it’s true if a person moves out of state that stops the clock, as long as authorities don’t know where they went.
But the sheriff’s office knew the brothers moved to Alaska, and contacted them in 1993, Crowley said.
“They interviewed him and his brother, it’s no secret where he was,” he said.
Judge Brosey has already said more than once the court plans to bring in an extra large number of potential jurors for the murder trial, to allow for the amount of pre-trial publicity the case has generated.
The most serious of the new allegations is that shortly after the victim turned 9, her mother was gone from the home and she was told to keep that “side of the bed warm.” Charging documents state she awoke to Riffe raping her.
The girl left the room with an excuse and then slept on the floor of her brother’s bedroom, according to the documents.
For that, Riffe is charged with what was then called statutory rape.
The second count, then called indecent liberties, is in connection with when she was 10 years old and Riffe allegedly fondling her.
Riffe denies any sexual contact, according to charging documents.
The hearing yesterday continued with tentative scheduling in April for two days of pre-trial hearings and deadlines decided for the submission of pre-trial motions.
Riffe remains held in the Lewis County Jail on $5 million bail.
•••
For background, read “Man held in 1985 slayings of Ethel couple now accused of child sex abuse from nearly 30 years ago” from Friday February 22, 2013 at 11:24 a.m., here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
If the victim of the rape was 9 years old, 28 years ago. Then the statue of limitations has long expired.
“Monkey’s Uncle says:
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 5:16 pm
Defense attorney Crowley is incorrect.And i’m sure he knows it. At some point in the past the state past a law that crimes of violence,that includes sexual assaults, against children, have no statute of limitations.”
It is you sir who is incorrect. Here is a link to the Washington State Statue of Limitations page.
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9A.04.080
One more thing . . . Jonathan Meyer is a fucking imbecile.
But then, you know what you call a lawyer with in IQ of 45?
Your honor! 😉
I realize this Riffe guy is innocent until proven guilty, but if he IS guilty of all he is being accused of he is the one of lowest pieces of shit that has ever lived and he should be drawn and quartered for crimes against children and the elderly.
What kind of “person” does things like this?
Defense attorney Crowley is incorrect.And i’m sure he knows it. At some point in the past the state past a law that crimes of violence,that includes sexual assaults, against children, have no statute of limitations.
Holy christ I just wasted 13 minutes of my life watching DCE’s video. Son, you are a head case.
DCE’s comments reflect directly on one of the main subjects of the case; i.e. Meyer.
For those of you who are inept and unable to read between the lines.
What DCE is saying is:
J. Meyer is going to make a mockery of the Ed and Minnie Maurin murder case, just like he has made a mockery of individual’s constitutional rights, for the very fact he does not fully understand the law.
What kind of prosecutor violates an individual’s constitutional rights and then goes around PRETENDING to be a legit officer of the law?
A corrupt one.
I have no reason to doubt any of the charges Ricky Riffe is facing in either case, but it does seem curious that the child abuse charges were filed this late in the game. Makes me wonder how strong a case Meyer thinks he has on the Maurin murders and whether the child abuse charges are a fallback.
Ahhh, for the “Golden Era” with Jeremy Randolph.
DCE I would guess that IF you were attacked it was because you are a DA.
Scooter Girl The fact that Jonathan Meyer is arguing the law is just another example of why I was choked in handcuffs and illegaly detained by Centralia PD. Meyer didn’t know the law then and it caused me to be harmed. Ingnorance is just no excuse for violating someones rights.
For following up on the statute of limitations angle. I thought there was something fishy going on. I sure wish prosecutors would just do an honest job prosecuting the case at hand based on the merits of the case and the evidence, as opposed to playing these games.
Scooter Girl,
That’s just what he’s all about. Nothing new here. Just ignore it and enjoy the rest of the news site.
Wow DCE…..great job! You’ve again managed to try and turn the attention to yourself with your “poor me” cry baby story.
I know this is going to Piss Jonathan Meyer Off Real bad but here goes. Mr Meyer does not even understand the Law. On March 3rd 2011 Gary Byrnes called him during my traffic stop and told him I was filming the officer. Meyer told Officer Byrnes that it was illegal to record the police. This caused my rights to be violated and I was choked in hand cuffs and my car was illegaly searched and I was detained. Meyers then called back and said that the law had changed and that people could record the police. My rights were clearly violated by the prosecutor and the police department. Mr Meyers has no business in office if he does not know the law. My rights were violated for filming my traffic stop. It’s time that someone file a real Law Suit against Lewis County and take them all the way to the Western District Federal Court in Tacoma. This Incident Happened because Meyers is not Familair with the law. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2Gr636Os-s Because of Jonathan Meyer I was attacked by police officers for protecting my rights. Jonathan Meyer this is no excuse for ingnorance of the law.
just wondering did the state add charges or did step-daughter???