Accused child-sex predator withdraws plea

A Lake Tapps pilot who pleaded guilty to 35 federal child-sex charges also will plead guilty to similar crimes in state court as part of a joint plea bargain, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Seattle said Friday.

Weldon Marc Gilbert, 48, will serve both his sentences at the same time under terms of the deal, which were made public Friday. Federal prosecutors intend to ask for a sentence of 25 years when Gilbert is sentenced Aug. 17.

He originally was charged in state court, but that case was put on hold while federal authorities prosecuted him. In 2007, he pleaded not guilty in Pierce County Superior Court to nine crimes, including child rape, child molestation and sexual exploitation of a minor.

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Lake Tapps man pleads guilty in state court
Lake Tapps man pleads guilty in state court
A Lake Tapps man sentenced this week to serve 25 years in prison for federal child-sex crimes pleaded guilty Friday to similar charges in state court.

Weldon Marc Gilbert, 49, entered guilty pleas to two counts of first-degree child molestation and nine counts of sexual exploitation of a minor in Pierce County Superior Court.

He is to be sentenced Dec. 11. Whatever sentence he receives is to be served concurrently with his federal sentence under terms of a plea deal he reached with state authorities, deputy prosecutor Patrick Hammond said.

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Child sex offender receives 25 years
Child sex offender receives 25 years
They called him a thief of innocence, a destroyer of families, the devil.

In the end, Weldon Marc Gilbert did not disagree with the assessments delivered Monday in U.S. District Court in Tacoma by the victims of his years of sex abuse.

“I caused all of these people untold embarrassment and pain,” the Lake Tapps man said before being sentenced for federal child-sex crimes. “How could I have been so blind?”

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Lake Tapps man gets 25 years in child-sex case
Lake Tapps man gets 25 years in child-sex case
They called him a thief of innocence, a destroyer of families, the devil.

In the end, Weldon Marc Gilbert did not disagree with the assessments delivered Monday in U.S. District Court in Tacoma by the victims of his years of sex abuse.

“I caused all of these people untold embarrassment and pain,” the Lake Tapps man said before being sentenced for federal child-sex crimes. “How could I have been so blind?”

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Pilot admits to sex crimes
Pilot admits to sex crimes
Weldon Marc Gilbert, a wealthy Lake Tapps pilot accused in dozens of sex crimes involving teenage boys, pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday evening.

Gilbert, 48, pleaded guilty to 31 counts of production of child pornography, two counts of transporting a minor across state lines to engage in sexual activity and two counts of obstruction of justice, U.S. Attorney spokeswoman Emily Langlie said.

He could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison, and has agreed to forfeit his house, a plane, a helicopter, multiple cars and “all items used in efforts to lure victims,” Langlie said.
Adam Lynn; The News Tribune
Published: 01/12/10 7:41 pm | Updated: 01/12/10 7:46 pm
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Weldon Marc Gilbert backed out of a plea agreement in Pierce County Superior Court on Tuesday, raising questions about the validity of a plea bargain in federal court that resulted in the Lake Tapps-area man receiving a 25-year sentence for child-sex crimes.

“I think it’s in jeopardy,” Gilbert’s attorney, John Henry Browne, said outside court. Assistant U.S. attorney Roger Rogoff disagreed, saying he believes the federal plea will remain in effect because Pierce County prosecutors upheld their end of the deal agreed upon by the U.S. government, the state of Washington and Gilbert.

The wealthy pilot and businessman pleaded guilty last year to 35 federal counts – 31 of them for producing child pornography. Authorities contended he used money, the promise of flying lessons and other inducement to seduce more than a dozen boys and young men to partake in sex acts at his home, much of which he videotaped.

The bargain Gilbert, 49, reached in federal court was contingent upon him pleading guilty to sex crimes in state court as well, with the caveat that Pierce County prosecutors recommend a sentence of no longer than 16 years, six months in prison to run at the same time as his federal sentence.

Deputy prosecutor Patrick Hammond was prepared to make that recommendation at Tuesday’s sentencing hearing. He, Browne and Gilbert’s other attorney, Emma Scanlan, agreed that Gilbert qualified for what’s called a determinate sentence, meaning that once Gilbert served the time set by the judge he would be discharged from the sentence.

But Superior Court Judge Susan Serko questioned whether the attorneys correctly interpreted which guidelines governed her sentencing of Gilbert. Serko indicated that she believed Gilbert could receive an open-ended sentence – called indeterminate – of 12 years, five months to life in prison, with the end date determined by the state’s Indeterminate Sentence Review Board.

The judge conceded that she did not make it clear to Gilbert at his November plea hearing in state court that he faced up to life in prison. That entitled him to withdraw his guilty plea, Serko said.

“I feel strongly that he can do that,” she said.

Hammond then said he was ready to file new charges against Gilbert that would leave Serko no option but to hand Gilbert a determinate sentence, but the issue of whether his state sentence should at the same time as his federal sentence – concurrently – or begin to toll after he served his federal time – consecutively – arose.

Serko would not concede, despite subtle pressure from Browne, that she was required to order that his state sentence run concurrently to his federal one.

Browne told the judge that a consecutive sentence in state court would violate the terms of the federal plea bargain, and that grueling trials requiring the testimony of dozens of victims might then be necessary in both jurisdictions. That’s something both sides are trying to avoid, he said.

“I wasn’t aware that a judge is bound by a plea agreement, Mr. Browne,” Serko responded coolly.

“It certainly never was contemplated by anyone that I’m aware of that Mr. Gilbert, under any circumstances, would get consecutive sentences,” Browne replied.

The possibility that he could wind up spending the rest of his life in prison apparently unnerved Gilbert, who exercised his right to withdraw his plea. He also declined to plead guilty to the new charges proffered by Hammond on Tuesday.

Serko then set bail at $10 million – despite the fact that Gilbert is being detained on a federal hold – and sent his case back into the trial pipeline in Pierce County Superior Court. He is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing for Jan. 28.

Outside court, Hammond said he’s still hopeful the state can reach a plea deal with Gilbert and convince a judge to order that his state sentence be served concurrently with his federal one.

“The ball is really in Mr. Gilbert’s court at this point in time,” Hammond said.

But Browne said his client will not expose himself to a possible sentence in state court that would run consecutively to his federal sentence.

“We need some assurance that the sentence will be concurrent, or we’re not going to do it,” Browne said. “That would amount to a life sentence for Mr. Gilbert. Pleading guilty and getting a life sentence is not a very good bargain, is it?”

Adam Lynn: 253-597-8644
adam.lynn@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/crime

Seattle Real Estate Tyler Freed

Group helps less-fortunate children

The Windermere Foundation helps makes Christmas a happy time for some less-fortunate kids in Bonney Lake.

Working through a three-year-old program in which a portion of sales commissions pay for toys, local teachers identify kids in need.

Money is directed to the local Fred Meyer store where appropriate gifts are purchased.

Because the need was great last year, money was advanced from this year’s campaign. Now, with the need still running high, the program is scrambling to collect needed cash.

Fred Meyer has made a $250 donation already and organizers are putting donation canisters at the Bonney Lake store this week so customers can easily make a donation.

Donations also can be made at the Windermere Bonney Lake Office.

Fred Meyer will open its doors early Saturday and allow the teachers to shop for the families. Gifts will be wrapped by the teachers and delivered to the families before winter break.

During the past three years the program has raised more than $10,000.

For information, contact Windermere at 253-883-0400 or Fred Meyer at 253-891-7315.

Seattle Real Estate Tyler Freed

Lake Tapps Public Water Supply Project

The Department of Ecology (Ecology) developed a draft report of exam for a Lake Tapps Public Water Supply Project in 2006 for public comment. The proposed project is to help supply the long-range municipal water needs of the Central Puget Sound region, protect salmon and improve water quality, and assist ongoing efforts to preserve Lake Tapps. Ecology anticipates that it will issue a revised draft report of examination in 2009.

If the water supply project proposal is ultimately finalized and approved, Ecology will issue three interrelated water rights and one water right change to Cascade Water Alliance (Cascade). Under these rights, Cascade would store water in the Lake Tapps Reservoir, divert water from the White River into Lake Tapps to supply water for the Water Supply Project, and withdraw water from Lake Tapps for municipal water supply purposes. The water rights change that would be issued with these water rights would confirm that the Puget Sound Energy (PSE) hydropower claim could be used for purposes in addition to hydropower generation, such as recreation, enhancement of fish and wildlife, maintaining water quality and other regulatory purposes. As currently proposed, the 50 plus year project would give Cascade new authority to take an average of 64.6 million gallons of lake water a day for public use.

The Cascade Water Alliance is a coalition including the Cities of Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond, and Tukwila, the Covington Water District, the Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer District, and Skyway Water and Sewer District. Cascade has executed an agreement to purchase the water rights and all other assets necessary to operate the White River/Lake Tapps Project from PSE. Cascade will construct the necessary water treatment and delivery systems to get water from the lake to its members.

The arrangement will help PSE offset the cost of cessation of its 1912 White River hydroelectric project, which created Lake Tapps. PSE stopped hydropower operation in 2004 because of the costs of project operation associated with a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission hydropower license.

In 1980, Ecology adopted a rule that closed the White River to new water-right allocations. Therefore, Cascade has to demonstrate that the Lake Tapps water-supply proposal will significantly benefit the environment and the public. To satisfy this requirement, the water rights package that Ecology would approve must:

Increase the minimum instream flows in the White River to improve water quality and enhance salmon habitat.
Set aside streamside or adjacent lands in the White River watershed to support salmon and other wildlife.
Cascade has developed mitigation strategies and agreement to ensure White River flows and lake levels are protected and enhanced with feedback from Tribes, the Lake Tapps Community Pierce County, nearby cities and others. Cascade is also developing an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the project. The projected completion date of the mitigation strategy and EIS is August 2009. Ecology should then be able make a decision on the water rights for the project by the end of 2009.

Informal Report of Examination Review Process
On September 25, 2006, Ecology posted the draft Lake Tapps Public Water Supply Project report of exam on this Web site for an informal 45 business-day review period. Though this review was not required by law, there is considerable interest in this project.

Draft Lake Tapps Water Supply Project Report of Examination
Pages that have project description maps from Report of Examination:
Lake Tapps Project Area – Figure 1
Lake Tapps Reservoir Schematic – Figure 3
Comments and Suggestions Received During the 45 day Informal Review Period
King County
Puyallup Tribe of Indians
Muckleshoot Indian Tribe
City of Kent Public Works Department
City of Auburn
Pierce County
Lake Tapps Task Force
Cascade Water Alliance’s letter and related documents
Cedar River Water and Sewer District
Fall City Water District
Shoreline Water District
Lake Tapps Community Council
Citizens for Clean Drinking Water – Signature Forms
On-line Form Comments
Ralph Mason
Bartley Madison
Carolyn Clark
Puget Sound Energy
Puyallup Tribe of Indians – Adaptive Management Flow Proposal
The Puyallup Tribe of Indians, in its negotiations with Puget Sound Energy, Cascade Water Alliance and the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, has proposed the an Adaptive Management Plan to be incorporated into the Draft ROE. That proposal is being currently under consideration by Ecology and Pierce County.”

Puyallup Tribe of Indians Adaptive Management Flow Proposal

Related Information Sources – Lake Level
USGS Lake Tapps near Sumner, WA – water surface elevation and reservoir storage

Lake Tapps Community Council

Save Lake Tapps – September 30, 2008: Annual drawdown of Lake Tapps’ water level to commence on or after Nov 1, 2008

Information on Water Rights in Washington from the Department of Ecology.

Contacts
Lake Tapps Water Supply Project
Report of Exam
Tom Loranger
Department of Ecology
PO Box 47600
Olympia WA 98504-7600
E-mail tlor461@ecy.wa.gov
Phone 360 407-6058
Website

Chris Anderson
Department of Ecology
PO Box 47600
Olympia WA 98504-7600
E-mail cand461@ecy.wa.gov
Phone 360 407-6634

Seattle Real Estate Tyler Freed

Specific Area Laws

Class ‘A’ Lakes: Lake Tapps, Alder Lake, and Lake Kapowsin

Lake Tapps-Lake Ridge Cove – the maximum speed is 5 mph except for the purpose of taking off and landing water skiers from property along the cove. You must approach the entrance at a right angle for at least 200 feet. Vessels exiting the cove have priority over vessels entering the cove. The channel must be clear prior to entering the cove. Vessels shall keep to the right half of the entrance and the skier must stay directly behind the vessel. If the entrance is obstructed, unsafe, or it is unlawful to proceed, the vessel shall come to a complete stop and pick up the skier. No wading, swimming, taking off or landing of water skiers is permitted with 100 feet in either direction from the entrance to the cove.

Lake Ridge Addition, Deer Island Channel, Deer Island & Island 21 Channel – the maximum speed is 5 mph unless you are taking off or landing a skier from property within the channel or adjacent cove. The operator shall keep the vessel on the right half of the channel with the skier directly behind the vessel. You are not allowed to pass another vessel traveling in the same direction. You are required to keep 200 feet behind the vessel and come to a full stop and bring the skier on board if the channel is obstructed, unsafe, or it is unlawful to proceed. Drifting, anchoring or rafting of motorized vessels is prohibited in Deer Island/Lakeridge Cove, except at private docks.

Rafting On Lake Tapps – It is unlawful to raft two or more vessels together in any cove or channel or within 500 feet of shore on Lake Tapps, except in a designated area along Dike 4 near the Pierce County Park. ‘Raft or Rafting’ means to tie, connect, fasten, hold, or secure two or more vessels together or to an object other than a dock that is secured to the shoreline, while on the water.

Seattle Real Estate Tyler Freed

Ilalko PTA to provide holiday light strand recycling

Nov 25 2009, 1:03 PM · UPDATED

The Ilalko Elementary School PTA needs your help.

The Ilalko Elementary Green Team established a holiday light strand recycling program. The goal is to collect as many broken, mangled, snarled and unusable light strands as possible. Extension cords are fine, too.

The collection drive will end Jan. 22.

A collection box has been established near the school’s front office center. The school is located at 301 Oravetz Place SE.

TOP Food & Drug (1406 Lake Tapps Parkway E.), Lakeland Family Chiropractic (4220 A St. SE, Suite 103), Children’s Dance Theater (14 B St. NE), Auburn Family YMCA (1620 Perimeter Road SW) and Bank of America (Southcenter branch, Tukwila) also are providing collection boxes.

Proceeds will benefit the Ilalko Library Fund.

Seattle Real Estate Tyler Freed

Bellingham’s Haggen Inc. has named its Lake Tapps TOP Food & Drug store as the winner of its best store award for 2009. The Lake Tapps store shared that honor with the company’s Woodinville store. Haggen operates 33 supermarkets under the TOP and Haggen names in Washington and Oregon. Four of the Lake Tapps store’s department managers, Angela Moore, Lynette Barth, James Chapin and Mike Heath, were tops in their categories in the internal contest.

Seattle Real Estate Tyler Freed

The party is ending. Pierce County Sheriff Marine Services Unit deputies will begin “educating” boaters about the new “underway only” rule on Fairweather Cove – also known as Party Cove – in north Lake Tapps that goes into effect this weekend. “We are not going to write tickets right away,” said Sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer. “We will have signs made and putting information out there about the new rule.” The new rule bans motorized vessels from anchoring, drifting or tying together in

Seattle Real Estate Tyler Freed

Lake Tapps’ “Party Cove” may need a new nickname after the Pierce County Council approved temporary rules designed to curb the rowdy behavior of some boaters there. This afternoon the council unanimously approved rules prohibiting motorized vessels from anchoring, drifting or tying together in Fairweather Cove – also known as “Party Cove” – between Tacoma and Driftwood points. The move will essentially make the cove a “no parking” zone and will remain in effect until August 31, 2010. The n

Seattle Real Estate Tyler Freed

NEWS TEAM: GOOD MORNING SOUTH SOUND >>> Drunk Guys: Shouldn’t throw a burning thermos, and will get beat up for being evil. Lake Tapps: No more tapping that. You Sell Heroin: You go to jail. Dick: Cheney’s canceled C.I.A. program was a covert assassination plan targeting Qaeda leaders. National “Not So” Guardsmen: Soldiers charged with filming female unit members showering. Judgment Day: Niceties over, the questioning begins for Supreme Court Nominee So

Seattle Real Estate Tyler Freed