[Vision2020] Parks: Sentencing Delayed

[Art Deco]

Does anyone know if tomorrow night's candlelight vigil is still on?

Wayne A. Fox
1009 Karen Lane
PO Box 9421
Moscow, ID  83843

waf at moscow.com
208 882-7975


Prosecutor seeks delay in sentencing convicted killer
  a.. June 5th, 2010
By Joel Mills of the Tribune 


MOSCOW - The Latah County Prosecutor's Office is seeking to delay next week's sentencing of Silas Parks so it can prepare a response to the defense's independent psychological evaluation. 

Prosecutor William Thompson Jr. filed a motion Friday in 2nd District Court requesting an approximate three-week delay so he can prepare a cross-examination of Dr. Craig Beaver, the psychologist who conducted the evaluation. 

"We need time to consult with an independent expert on the contents of the report," Thompson said. "We don't know if it's going to be necessary to seek further examination (of Parks) by an independent psychologist." 

According to Thompson's motion, Parks' Moscow attorneys Charles Kovis and D. Ray Barker intend to call Beaver at the sentencing hearing. Because the defense's psychological report is part of the court's presentence investigation, Thompson said he can't discuss its contents. 

Kovis and Barker did not return calls from the Lewiston Tribune on Friday. 

Parks was to be sentenced Tuesday. He pleaded guilty in March to two counts of voluntary manslaughter and one count of first-degree arson in connection with the death last year of his pregnant wife, Sarah Parks, a third-grade teacher at Moscow Charter School. 

Parks was initially charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree arson. Moscow police arrested him last June for the strangulation or suffocation death of Sarah Parks, her unborn daughter Lilly Ann Parks and the subsequent torching of the couple's condo in northern Moscow. 

Sarah Parks' family agreed to support the plea deal on the condition that Silas Parks explain at sentencing the details of what led to her death. Family members will also have an opportunity to confront Parks at the hearing. 

Thompson recommended Judge Jeff Brudie send Parks to prison for a maximum of 40 years. He remains free on bond at his parents' Kendrick home. 

Brudie has indicated he will grant the motion to delay, Thompson said, and the defense said it will not object. 

A conference call between Brudie, Thompson and Parks' attorneys is set for Monday morning to reschedule the sentencing hearing. 
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