Ricky Riffe, prisoner in red, waits as a clerk gets his lawyer on the telephone for a trial confirmation hearing in Lewis County Superior Court.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Prosecutors have offered a deal to convicted murderer and former Mossyrock resident Ricky Riffe if he pleads guilty to charges he raped and molested his 9-year-old step-daughter in the mid-1980s.
Riffe, 55, is already serving a sentence of nearly 103 years, following his conviction last fall in the 1985 kidnapping, robbery and shotgun deaths of Ed and Minnie Maurin, an elderly Ethel couple.
He was arrested in mid-2012 in the old case, and extradited from his longtime home in King Salmon, Alaska back to Lewis County where he was found guilty after a six-week trial. Early last year, while he was in the jail awaiting trial, prosecutors filed charges accusing him of sex crimes, saying new information came to light during the Maurin investigation.
Riffe appeared in Lewis County Superior Court this afternoon, where lawyers were expected to confirm if they are prepared for the trial which is scheduled for next week.
Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer told the judge there had been an offer made by his office, but he understood Riffe’s attorney hadn’t yet conveyed it to or discussed it with his client.
Meyer didn’t disclose what the deal consisted of.
Seattle-based defense attorney John Crowley couldn’t attend the hearing, but represented his client via speakerphone.
Crowley began to explain he was involved in two trials in Eastern Washington, and while he was there, meant to visit Riffe in prison to discuss the offer. But then he learned Riffe had already been put on a bus back to Lewis County, he said.
Lewis County Superior Court Judge Nelson Hunt was stern, cutting the lawyer off before he could request a postponement.
“We’ve gone out of our way to preserve dates for you,” Hunt said.
Hunt told him he expects either the trial to begin on time next week, or if a plea deal is reached, then a plea must made before that date.
Riffe has denied any sexual contact with the girl, according to charging documents.
Meyer said the trial is set to begin next Thursday and could last five days.
Ricky Riffe is back in Lewis County Superior Court for another trial, accused of child molestation from the 1980s.
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For background, read “Battle continues between Ricky Riffe, Lewis County prosecutors” from Friday January 3, 2014, here
And, “Attorneys dispute statute of limitations rules on surprise child sex charge for Maurin double murder defendant” from Saturday February 23, 2013, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
He should be executed via 12 gauge just as he and his scum brother killed the Maurin family.
Wow. You guys are all horrible. He is innocent. Unfair trial and this charge is ridiculous.
This is Lewis County’s coup de grâce for him. Cause there is no way that little dude is gonna make it through the gladiator pits of Walla Walla, or Callam Bay with a child rape charge. Essentially they are sending him back to the big house with an unofficial death sentence.
I was very close with the Hadaller family as a kid and wish nothing but pain, misery and torture upon Rick Riffe.
Thanks to all that has used there real names and did not have to hide behind a fake name and or a nick name. Those are the real losers. Keep the freedom of speech alive…..
Ne needs to be convicted of this offense for two reasons. One it will give the victim a sense of seeing justice done. She will never have closure after being violated but it will give her some peace I hope.
Next while he is serving his sentence for the brutal murder of two truly innocent people he will also have the label of child rapist following him. In the sub culture of the prison world that will make him lower than pond scum.
I often disagree with Nelson Hunt, but he’s spot on in his assessment of Riffe’s attorney, John Crowley. How the hell did this guy become a lawyer in the first place? Pay $100 to some online diploma mill in The Bahamas? He couldn’t have passed a real bar exam because he would’ve had to show up to take the test and showing up is not exactly one of Crowley’s strong points.
Not that I have any sympathy for Ricky Riffe, but he has grounds to seek at least one retrial because he can easily prove he was poorly represented in court. A public defender would’ve done a better job.
A bullet is cheap, this guy needs to receive one.
Hang Em at the town square.
Execute him!