Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Shooting suspect appears in county court
By Carl Mickelson, Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 18, 2006 | 1 comment(s)
A Coos Bay man accused of shooting another man in the chest over the weekend appeared in Coos County Circuit Court Tuesday afternoon and learned if convicted of the 13 criminal counts he faces, he could spend several decades behind bars.
At around 3:30 p.m., Kery K. Huff, 43, appeared on a video monitor in Judge Martin Stone's courtroom via a link to the Coos County jail. He was not seen, except by a handful of court officials, but his voice was heard by the 15 or so people who gathered in the courtroom.
“The Coos County District Attorney's Office has filed charges against you in my court,” Stone said as he looked at an image of Huff on the screen. “You've been charged with 13 separate crimes.”
There was an audible gasp from a few audience members sitting in the back row of the courtroom.
Stone informed Huff of the charges and sentences he faces, including attempted murder with a firearm, first-degree assault with a firearm, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, second-degree assault, two counts of felony possession of a firearm, delivery and possession of methamphetamine, two counts of menacing and two counts of pointing a firearm at another.
“Mr. Huff. Would you like to speak to a lawyer about these charges?” Stone asked.
“Yes,” Huff replied.
During his arraignment, which lasted a little more than five minutes, Huff offered up mostly one-word answers to Stone's questions, which mainly centered around Huff's financial situation. Defendants who meet a certain set of criteria are eligible to have a court-appointed lawyer try their case.
On Saturday, 23-year-old Steven Dustin Frank was found with a gunshot wound to his chest, in the parking lot at the Coos Bay Kmart, 3111 Ocean Blvd. Phone calls to the Coos Bay dispatch center alerted officers to shots fired near the Boys & Girls Club of Southwestern Oregon, which is located at 3333 Walnut in Coos Bay. According to a statement released Tuesday by the Coos County District Attorney's Office, Frank was shot in the parking lot at the Boys & Girls Club and then driven to the Kmart parking lot by his sister, Roxan Bryan.
Huff was arrested at noon on Saturday after he called the Coos Bay Police Department saying he wanted to turn himself in. Huff made the call to the Coos Bay Police from the Lighthouse Grocery, 705 S. Empire Blvd., where he was later taken into custody.
The DA's Office said the two men were involved in an altercation at The Mill Casino-Hotel that led to them both being asked to leave, shortly before the shooting.
Frank was transported to Bay Area Hospital, where this morning, a hospital spokeswoman said he was in serious condition.
Stone explained to Huff the Class A felonies he faces carry with them a maximum sentence of 20 years in state prison and a $375,000 fine; Class B felonies, a 10-year sentence and $250,000 fine; Class C felonies, a five-year sentence and $125,000 fine; and Class A misdemeanors, one year in county jail and $6,250 fine.
Stone pointed out that several of the charges are Measure 11 crimes, including the attempted-murder and first-degree assault charges, which each carry mandatory minimum sentences of 90 months in state prison.
Before concluding Huff's arraignment, Stone set Huff's bail amount at $1 million and informed him he would be appointing a public defender for him.
Huff is expected to enter a plea, at his next court appearance, which is scheduled at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 24.
At around 3:30 p.m., Kery K. Huff, 43, appeared on a video monitor in Judge Martin Stone's courtroom via a link to the Coos County jail. He was not seen, except by a handful of court officials, but his voice was heard by the 15 or so people who gathered in the courtroom.
“The Coos County District Attorney's Office has filed charges against you in my court,” Stone said as he looked at an image of Huff on the screen. “You've been charged with 13 separate crimes.”
There was an audible gasp from a few audience members sitting in the back row of the courtroom.
Stone informed Huff of the charges and sentences he faces, including attempted murder with a firearm, first-degree assault with a firearm, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, second-degree assault, two counts of felony possession of a firearm, delivery and possession of methamphetamine, two counts of menacing and two counts of pointing a firearm at another.
“Mr. Huff. Would you like to speak to a lawyer about these charges?” Stone asked.
“Yes,” Huff replied.
During his arraignment, which lasted a little more than five minutes, Huff offered up mostly one-word answers to Stone's questions, which mainly centered around Huff's financial situation. Defendants who meet a certain set of criteria are eligible to have a court-appointed lawyer try their case.
On Saturday, 23-year-old Steven Dustin Frank was found with a gunshot wound to his chest, in the parking lot at the Coos Bay Kmart, 3111 Ocean Blvd. Phone calls to the Coos Bay dispatch center alerted officers to shots fired near the Boys & Girls Club of Southwestern Oregon, which is located at 3333 Walnut in Coos Bay. According to a statement released Tuesday by the Coos County District Attorney's Office, Frank was shot in the parking lot at the Boys & Girls Club and then driven to the Kmart parking lot by his sister, Roxan Bryan.
Huff was arrested at noon on Saturday after he called the Coos Bay Police Department saying he wanted to turn himself in. Huff made the call to the Coos Bay Police from the Lighthouse Grocery, 705 S. Empire Blvd., where he was later taken into custody.
The DA's Office said the two men were involved in an altercation at The Mill Casino-Hotel that led to them both being asked to leave, shortly before the shooting.
Frank was transported to Bay Area Hospital, where this morning, a hospital spokeswoman said he was in serious condition.
Stone explained to Huff the Class A felonies he faces carry with them a maximum sentence of 20 years in state prison and a $375,000 fine; Class B felonies, a 10-year sentence and $250,000 fine; Class C felonies, a five-year sentence and $125,000 fine; and Class A misdemeanors, one year in county jail and $6,250 fine.
Stone pointed out that several of the charges are Measure 11 crimes, including the attempted-murder and first-degree assault charges, which each carry mandatory minimum sentences of 90 months in state prison.
Before concluding Huff's arraignment, Stone set Huff's bail amount at $1 million and informed him he would be appointing a public defender for him.
Huff is expected to enter a plea, at his next court appearance, which is scheduled at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 24.
The comments below are from users of theworldlink.com and do not necessarily represent the views of The World or Lee Enterprises. Participation Guidelines
Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Not already registered?
The World welcomes your comments about stories, and we encourage a robust dialogue on this site. All comments must meet reasonable standards of decency and civility.
Please follow these basic rules:
- No defamatory comments about individuals or businesses.
- No deliberately false information.
- No obscenity or racially offensive language.
- No harassment, verbal abuse, threats or personal attacks.
- No information that invades another person's privacy.
- No business solicitations or charitable solicitations.
Comments that violate these standards will not be posted. Users with repeated violations may be banned from future posting.Comments will be approved throughout the day during business hours. After hours and weekend comments may not appear until the following business day. It may take a couple of hours before comments are approved.
The World generally does not edit comments, but we reserve the right to edit any comment that does not meet our standards.
Close Guidelines