Potential juror questioning focuses on media coverage

EPHRATA — More than three years after 13-year-old Craig Sorger died from multiple stab wounds in Ephrata's Oasis Park, jury selection began Monday at the Grant County Courthouse for the trial of 15-year-old Evan Savoie, the second teenager accused of Sorger's death.

Jake Eakin, 15, of Moses Lake, pleaded guilty one year ago to complicity to commit second-degree murder and received more than 14 years imprisonment. Eakin and Savoie were 12 years old when Sorger died.

On Monday, Savoie sat quietly as about 40 potential jurors entered the courtroom one-by-one for brief questioning by Grant County Superior Court Judge Ken Jorgensen, Grant County Prosecutor John Knodell and defense attorney Monty Hormel.

Savoie occasionally glanced around the courtroom, spoke to his attorneys and appeared relaxed.

The tall and wiry Knodell probed each one of the Grant County residents first, looking for open minds. He started with their name, a good morning or afternoon, and then quickly shifted to the questions:

"Do you think you can make up your mind based on what you hear in court?" Knodell asked one juror.

"Has anyone ever expressed an opinion to you about this case?"

"Do you know of any reason why you would not be able to be fair or impartial?" he asked.

Based on the media attention the case has received it may prove difficult for either side to find objective jurors. To speed the process, Knodell and Hormel agreed to focus almost exclusively on the question of publicity.

"What we're trying to do is get a juror that's open minded," Jorgensen explained to one potential juror. "We're interested to find out how much exposure you've had to this case."

If a potential juror confirmed they had followed media coverage, the attorneys and judge asked them whether they could set aside what they had read, seen or heard.

"Really, what we're most concerned about is the publicity and what you've heard," Hormel said to one prospective juror.

Most jurors admitted to reading about the case in the newspapers. Many, though, said they didn't believe what they read in newspaper articles.

Others confessed to having already reached verdicts in their minds based on the facts presented in the news articles.

Still others had never heard of the case.

"Do you have an emotional response to any of the news you've heard?" Jorgensen asked a prospective juror. "Is there something about the (information) that is so startling that you couldn't put it aside?"

In light of the focus on media and ensuring a fair trial for Savoie, Hormel said he remained concerned about the presence of a TV news camera during the trial.

"I didn't have much choice," Jorgensen explained.

"That may just be my deep-seated irritation with the media," Hormel said.

Jorgensen assured Hormel that each juror will be instructed to avoid news coverage during the trial.

"I have heard of juror disobedience," Hormel replied. He said he would reserve his objection to the TV camera.

Jorgensen said the jury would not be sequestered.

Knodell instructed each potential juror that they must only consider evidence presented in court over the next five weeks if they are selected for jury duty. They must follow the court's instructions when considering the evidence. And, he said, the prosecution must bring all the evidence and prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The court officials will spend through Thursday morning sifting through the pool for around 40-45 potential jurors for further questioning on Friday.

Open arguments begin Monday when the court expects to have a jury seated along with four alternates.