New trial date in four local deaths set, despite defendant's objection

2016 Mariners season kicked off this month but local fans Holly and D’Ann Tedford (center) recall the Mariners Mothers Day massage and manicure that they shared with Suzanne McCay (left) and Andy Tedford (right) who were killed with two others in a one-car crash October 2014. Trial is currently set for June 7.

Over the defendant’s objections, his defense team in the multiple homicide case of State of Washington versus Nicholas Anderson was granted a continuance for more preparation time for trial. The next hearing to determine readiness is Friday, April 22. A trial date of June 7 was also set.

Anderson objected to the continuance requested by his attorneys, a position he has expressed before while claiming his right to a speedy trial. Addressing Judge Ronald Kessler, Anderson said at his March 25 hearing, “I’ve been in this place [jail] for 491 days for a crime I didn’t commit.” One victim’s family member noted, “We have been without our kids for 517 days.” Anderson was previously denied release on personal recognizance at a bond hearing in February. He has been incarcerated since his arrest in Port Angeles on November 20, 2014, 26 days after the deadly crash into three heavy duty electrical boxes and a 19”-diameter tree that occurred northbound on Auburn Way South.

The judge said he could understand Anderson’s position but that he was trying to prevent “a tactical error,” a bad decision that might have repercussions for Anderson later. Anderson has been charged, as the driver in the single car crash, with four vehicular homicides, vehicular assault, and reckless driving, each while driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs. Declared dead by first responders were Suzanne McCay, Ravensdale; Andy Tedford, Maple Valley; Caleb Graham, Enumclaw; and Rehlein Stone, Auburn. James Vaccaro of Seattle sustained major brain trauma.

While Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Amy Freedheim told the judge that the State was ready to proceed to trial, the defense team noted they had interviewed 45 of the State’s witnesses and needed time for 26 more in order to present the complete results to their “consultants.” No witnesses for the defense or experts’ names have been shared with State prosecutors. Prosecution witnesses include a report by a crash reconstruction expert and forensic, police, and medical testimony, in addition to those who received text messages for “a designated driver” several hours prior to the crash. The trial is expected to last four to six weeks. That timeframe encompasses a pretrial hearing and selection of a jury. Anderson, who pled not guilty, remains in custody at Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. Bail was set at $750,000 bail.

According to charging papers, “The defendant is a repeat driving under the influence offender and a convicted felon.” His Washington history includes malicious mischief I in 1999; two cases of reckless driving, both amended from DUI, in 1998 and 2005; and three cases of driving without a license/no valid operator’s license, 8/1998, 5/1998 and 5/2000. Other criminal history is from a DUI in Oregon 2010; habitual traffic offender/moving violation, Florida 2006; and a domestic violence arrest, 2008 in Alabama.