Gov. Jay Inslee has conditionally commuted Rogelio Vasquez’s 46-year sentence after he has already served 22 years. Vasquez was convicted and sentenced following a 1998 crime spree in Coupeville. Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks, who prosecuted Vasquez, recommended approval of the commutation in a statement to the Clemency and Pardons...
Island County officials took a second shot at finding a legal way to funnel American Rescue Plan Act money to county staff to compensate those who have to work with the public and are exposed to risks associated with the Covid pandemic. After Prosecutor Greg Banks concluded that the original...
Based on advice from Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks, the Island County Commissioners have rescinded a resolution that would have provided Island County essential employees bonuses for their “incredible work” during the Covid pandemic. The problem is that Washington state law and the state constitution does not allow for retroactive...
The regularly-scheduled roundtable meeting of the Island County Board of Commissioners with county elected and appointed officials for April.
Jessie Stensland writes in the Whidbey News-Times about a Washington State Supreme Court ruling overturning the state’s felony drug possession law as unconstitutional. The ruling vacates the convictions of inmates who were found guilty of this crime, and those who were in custody on such charges are being released. Sheriff...
