Seventh suspect charged in man's beating, strangulation
TACOMA, Wash. -- Prosecutors have charged a seventh person in the murder of Dean Barker, who was found beaten and strangled outside a vacant home in Graham last month.
John Joseph Brown, 60, on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, robbery and kidnapping in 51-year-old Barker's death.
Six others have been charged in the case. Five of them - William Barry, 33; Angela King, 32; Aileenah Horton, 17; Justin Mahaffey, 23; and Joshua Stevens, 23 - have pleaded not guilty to charges of premeditated murder, kidnapping and burglary. They are being held on $2 million bail each.
One suspect remains at large. Investigators have issued a nationwide alert for Jeffrey W. Powell, II, who has been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree robbery and first-degree kidnapping. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Brown told investigators the brutal assault on the victim took place at his home. He said the defendants beat Barker for nearly two hours before taking him from the home and killing him.
When questioned by investigators, several of the suspects said they abducted and beat Barker because they believe he had molested a toddler, according to the statement of probable case. One suspect claimed Barker had also sexually assaulted a woman.
However, Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist said the suspects' claim of vigilante justice for the victim's alleged sex crimes may not be true as investigators have not found any evidence to support either claim.
"Why wait until weeks after the alleged sexual assault? Why take the victim's watch? Why steal the victim's money?" said Lindquist. "What we know is that all the defendants were involved in a robbery and kidnapping at defendant Brown's house that led to murder."
After the beating, the suspects took Barker's wallet and split the cash, they told investigators. They also tied a red bandanna around his neck to "mark him, as Mahaffey belongs to a blood gang, the statement said.
Horton said she participated in the beating, but did not accompany the others to the home where the victim was abandoned. King said she went to the Graham home, but stayed in the car while Mahaffey and Powell walked Barker out of the car. She said Barker was still alive when she and Mahaffey left the scene.
John Joseph Brown, 60, on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, robbery and kidnapping in 51-year-old Barker's death.
Six others have been charged in the case. Five of them - William Barry, 33; Angela King, 32; Aileenah Horton, 17; Justin Mahaffey, 23; and Joshua Stevens, 23 - have pleaded not guilty to charges of premeditated murder, kidnapping and burglary. They are being held on $2 million bail each.
One suspect remains at large. Investigators have issued a nationwide alert for Jeffrey W. Powell, II, who has been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree robbery and first-degree kidnapping. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Brown told investigators the brutal assault on the victim took place at his home. He said the defendants beat Barker for nearly two hours before taking him from the home and killing him.
When questioned by investigators, several of the suspects said they abducted and beat Barker because they believe he had molested a toddler, according to the statement of probable case. One suspect claimed Barker had also sexually assaulted a woman.
However, Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist said the suspects' claim of vigilante justice for the victim's alleged sex crimes may not be true as investigators have not found any evidence to support either claim.
"Why wait until weeks after the alleged sexual assault? Why take the victim's watch? Why steal the victim's money?" said Lindquist. "What we know is that all the defendants were involved in a robbery and kidnapping at defendant Brown's house that led to murder."
After the beating, the suspects took Barker's wallet and split the cash, they told investigators. They also tied a red bandanna around his neck to "mark him, as Mahaffey belongs to a blood gang, the statement said.
Horton said she participated in the beating, but did not accompany the others to the home where the victim was abandoned. King said she went to the Graham home, but stayed in the car while Mahaffey and Powell walked Barker out of the car. She said Barker was still alive when she and Mahaffey left the scene.
Wondering if the "Tacoma Stop Snitching" Facebook site was connected to this crime. MIght be a stretch but its possible.
Very disturbing story.
Talk about a group of losers and thugs all for a couple of bucks, can't wait to see how the nanny state handles this one..
I have said before that when something like this happens and there is a clear gang connection, the State should invoke RICO or a RICO-like statute and sue the entire gang and everyone associated with it - both collectively and individually - for all damages and just compensation related to the conduct of gang members. Then turn over collection of the judgment to collection agents, repo agents and in general alternate forms of bounty hunters. Over time, gang members (whether directly involved in the crime or not) would find themselves subject to being stopped on the street or searched at home without any warning and relieved on the spot of any valuables in their possession - including jewelery, precious metals, cars, electronic equipment, "grilles", piercings, cash, credit and debit cards, gift cards, expensive apparel such as jackets and high-end shoes...anything that could be sold to help satisfy the judgment.
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The point of this strategy is to make the cost of this sort of crime - as well as of drive-by shootings and much other gang-related violence - so onerous to follow gang members that THEY will suppress the behavior among their own.
@JLS1950 - Not a bad idea, at all...But I think too, that pleading down for felony assault and or capital murder should be abolished, when there is irrefutable DNA evidence for a case.Â
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In addition, gangs could rely on the ACLU to support claims that their civil liberties were violated if they are stopped on the street - by calling it racial profiling.
Gangs generally rely on racial restrictions of their choosing in bonding with a 'clan' of people. Not too many Aftrican American Neo-Nazis or Caucasion Crips, Bloods or Triads running around. Just sayin'.Â
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So how do us non violent people get justice when the system is designed to pamper criminals? I wish I had an answer.
 @Smokin Bear Well, the system is not designed to pamper criminals, but rather to protect the unjustly-accused and even unjustly-convicted innocent:
http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/innocence-list-those-freed-death-rowÂ
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Now, I have not heard of the ACLU getting involved in DEBT COLLECTION issues very much. The point of all this is to first take these gang members to court in a civil trial, and prove by a preponderance of evidence that they are in fact members of a criminal gang and that association in that criminal gang was a major motivating factor in the crime as charged. Then, these actions are all taken by private collection agents working under bounty - not by police officers - and are targeted to specific individuals who have been NAMED as defendants in the civil lawsuit and have had judgment entered against them. Thus, there is no profiling whatsoever: the identity of the fellow gang members has been established in court based on a preponderance of evidence where there is opportunity to put forth a defense to refute the association. After that, it's just like collecting any other debt - just like what the IRS or VISA might do to you if you defaulted.
Remember, even OJ lost his civil trial for damages.
 @Smokin Bear Well, yes, criminal law is pretty restrictive on this. Civil law, however, only requires a "preponderance of evidence" to secure judgment. That is why it can be so valuable in these matters. Again recall OJ: he was acquitted in the crap-shoot of criminal court, but was then bankrupted in civil court (which ultimately led him to his criminal trouble in Nevada.)
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The other I agree with. The thing that really irritates me is that prosecutors seem to play favorites, prosecuting weak cases that grab big headlines (and too often end up as proved wrongful convictions) while ignoring cases that are not so "interesting" (publicity-wise) or that involve "special" defendants such as police officers. The recent case where a child rapist was allowed to plead out and is now suing for visitations rights with the child he fathered in the attack is an especially egregious example.
@JLS1950 - I am not missing the point. I get it.
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What I am saying is that under our criminal codes a person cannot be arrested or fined just because they MIGHT be dirty...or for what they MIGHT do.Â
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Pleading down for a first offense of a non violent crime. OK. Repeat offense. Nope. Laws need to apply to everyone.Â
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 @Smokin Bear You are still sort of missing the point. The determination of who "MAY be affiliated with a gang" has to be made in the initial Summons and Complaint that starts the civil lawsuit. Then the Court and a jury determine which defendants are liable for the damages and under what terms. At the time of verdict, the list of names is set, and those adjudged as liable have some time to make satisfactory payment arrangements. But if they fail to make the payments, then the collection and repo process takes over just as in any other major debt default. Except this being a court case, bankruptcy does not apply.
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Pleading down to lesser charges - while annoying - does have some benefit. For one thing, it assures a conviction in a trial that is otherwise like a roll of dice. And it saves the taxpayers a bundle. But when they plead down something like child rape to a sentence or a year or less? FIRE THE PROSECUTOR!
@JLS1950 - Debt collection, yes, but if that involves tracking gang members who MAY be affiliated with a gang or have knowledge of a gang related crime, there has to be probable cause: they are protected under the 4th Amendment from illegal search and seizure .Â
I'm just pointing out that people who associate with gangs or some other criminal element cannot be held accountable for the actions of others. Aiding and abetting is a different issue altogether.
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When perpetrators of a crime plead down to lesser charges, justice is not served for the victims. I'm not advocating blindly accusing innocent people of crimes but rather cases where there is DNA evidence that identifies a killer or rapist, pleading down should not be permitted.
8 people against one person who is bound. That has to be the definition for cowardice and cruelty.
Quite a little gang of thugs there.
 @mstipton Hang 'em high.
"a nationwide alert for Jeffrey W. Powell, II" But we are not going to show you his picture!
 @DarkParty Yeah, I was just wondering the same thing about the lack of a picture when this story ran yesterday. It's very odd that some media "outlets" do provide more complete information that others, isn't it?
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Here's the wanted murder suspect's picture: http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-body-found-at-vacant-graham-home-20120908,0,7077941.story
@TheTruncheon - Thank you for posting this. Komo should hire you for their research dept.!
 @TheTruncheon Did you find a picture of Mr. Baker, the victim?
 @Delesa  @TheTruncheon http://abcnews.go.com/US/man-found-beaten-strangled-vigilante-murder-arrested-sought/story?id=17373749#.UGyp8K52DN8
 @TheTruncheon Odd how KOMO Staff do not think that is a pertinent piece of the story.