Justice/Sentences Upheld In Yakima Murder Cases

 There was a time in the recent past when most of the news coming out of the prosecutor’s office was frustrating and not what you might expect or want in terms of justice.  That’s changed with Joe Brusic taking over the office and today his office announces the results of a couple of appeals filed in recent serious felony cases. From the Yakima County Prosecutor’s office news release:"Division Three of the Court of Appeals affirmed the convictions of Terrek Tremain Corbin who is serving a sentence in prison of 58 years and 8 months.  Mr. Corbin was convicted of first degree felony murder, second degree assault, and first degree burglary stemming from a home invasion burglary on October 24, 2010.  Corbin and two others forced their way into the Yakima home of Mark Wallace.  Mark Wallace’s son was hit with a pistol and he called for his father who was sleeping at the time.  Mark Wallace exited his bedroom and was shot in the chest.  He died at the hospital shortly thereafter.

Mr. Corbin concealed evidence and left town after the crime.  The murder weapon was found in a dumpster by a janitor.  The gun was inside of a hat that contained Mr. Corbin’s DNA.  Mr. Corbin also made incriminating phone calls while in custody at the jail.

Mr. Corbin appealed, challenging the sufficiency of the evidence.  Division 3 of the Court of Appeals found that there was sufficient evidence to support each conviction.

Last week, in State v. Fabian Arredondo, Division Three upheld convictions for second degree murder and 3 counts of first degree assault.  Mr. Arredondo is a member of the Norteno gang.  His convictions stemmed from a drive-by shooting on December 5, 2009 that killed a rival Sureno gang member.

He is serving a 90-year sentence in prison.  The Court of Appeals heard numerous issues and held that there was sufficient evidence to uphold the gang enhancements and that evidence of a prior drive-by shooting was properly admitted.  The Court also found no violation of his right to a public trial.

The case was remanded for a hearing on the sole issue of the imposition of legal financial obligations.  The case was tried by Senior Deputy Prosecutor Sam Chen and successfully defended on appeal by Senior Deputy Prosecutor David Trefry. "