Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
SPRAGUE — A former local resident has petitioned Lincoln County Superior Court to seal the court record on his conviction in an attempted kidnapping of a 22-month-old child.
James R. Stocker, 25, of Spokane, was scheduled to be in court Sept. 3 on his request to seal the record of his conviction when he was a minor in Sprague.
In 2015, when Stocker was a teenager, he pleaded guilty to second-degree kidnapping and was sentenced to juvenile detention. The plea stemmed from an attempted kidnapping on March 8, 2015, in Sprague City Park.
Records show three siblings — ages 10, 8 and 22 months — were in the park without a parent on that day when an unknown person approached and told them he enjoyed babysitting.
After a few minutes, the person, later identified as Stocker, was seen holding the 22-month-old, then attempting to flee with the toddler in his arms, records show. The older brother and sister gave chase, screaming at him.
Other kids in the area saw the incident and also began yelling, records show. That’s when Stocker dropped the child in a vacant lot, records show.
Police looking for clues located a baptism book in the fire pit of the gazebo in the city park, records show. The book had fingerprints.
Through video, the book and a previous case with a local teen, investigators determined Stocker was the suspect and later arrested him.
In his court filing to seal the record, Stocker notes he’s done his time, grown up and has not been convicted of any crimes in the last five years.
According to the records, he believes he has met the criteria to seal the record, meaning the public won’t be able to review the kidnapping case in the future.
Roger Harnack is owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. An award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher who grew up in Eastern Washington, he's one of only two Washington state journalists ever to receive the international Golden Quill for editorial/commentary writing. Roger is committed to preserving local media, and along with it, a local voice for Eastern Washington.
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