Ritzville man sentenced in theft case

RITZVILLE – A local man was sentenced Monday, March 23, to a $500 fine following his conviction for third-degree possession of stolen property.

Stuart Lee McKenney, 30, appeared before Adams County Superior Court Judge Steven B. Dixon for a change of plea and sentencing related to a Nov. 6 charge of possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

According to court documents, McKenney knew the car, valued at less than $750, was stolen.

He was initially charged with third-degree possession of a stolen vehicle, a gross misdemeanor punishable by confinement in a county jail for up to 364 days and/or a fine of up to $5,000.

McKenney, represented by public defender Carsen Van Valkenberg, was sentenced to pay a victim assessment fine of $500, to be paid off within two years. Restitution has yet to be determined, court records show.

McKenney was given a suspended sentence of 364 days in Adams County Jail with credit given for 51 days confinement; and put on two years unsupervised probation, records show.

The case was prosecuted by Adams County Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Robert A. Lehman.