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ML man gets 51 months for eluding, strangling and more

by EMRY DINMAN
Staff Writer | January 17, 2020 8:28 AM

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man will serve 51 months in prison after pleading guilty to a slate of crimes committed over the course of two months.

Kevin Michael Beamish, 49, pleaded guilty to bail jumping, attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, reckless driving, as well as hit and run of unattended property. Beamish’s unusually long sentence reflects an extensive criminal history, including 14 prior felony convictions.

The charges stem from two separate cases, the first of which Beamish was arrested for in October.

In that case, according to court documents, Beamish hit a domestic partner pregnant with his baby several times over the head with a flashlight and then strangled her when she attempted to leave until she nearly blacked out. The victim told police that Beamish only released her when she hit him in the eye, and that he then stole the phone. Beamish had also assaulted the woman two days prior, she told police, sending her to the hospital.

Beamish also had a prior conviction in 2015 for third-degree domestic violence assault.

More so than other types of domestic violence, strangulation is considered to be particularly indicative of future violent behaviors. However, that charge was ultimately dismissed by the court.

Instead, Beamish was charged with bail jumping, after being released on bail and then failing to appear in court. For this charge specifically, Beamish was sentenced to 51 months in prison.

Then, in late September, a Grant County sheriff’s deputy attempted to pull Beamish over for going 20 miles per hour over the speed limit. Beamish led police on a pursuit, but failed to negotiate a turn into the Larson housing community and drove into a power pole.

Beamish fled on foot but was soon found in a field by police and was airlifted to a regional hospital for a severe head injury. Officers recommended charges of hit and run of unattended property.

Only five days later, a Grant County sheriff’s deputy was responding to a reported break-in just outside of Moses Lake city limits and attempted to stop a suspect vehicle driven by Beamish.

But once again, Beamish fled police, driving at nearly 100 miles per hour northbound on state Route 17, according to court documents. Over the course of the next 20 minutes, Beamish led police on a high-speed pursuit on the highway and in the Larson and Gateway Estates residential areas.

Officers twice deployed spike strips, first successfully and then unsuccessfully, during that time. While making a turn, a passenger jumped out of the vehicle and fled on foot, later identified by police as Timothy Riggins, 31, of Moses Lake.

Shortly thereafter, Beamish stopped his vehicle and surrendered to police. He was arrested on new charges of reckless driving and attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, as well as a warrant stemming from the September incident just days prior.

These three charges were wrapped together in a single case, for which Beamish was sentenced to 29 months. However, his two sentences will be served concurrently, meaning he will spend 51 months in total in prison.

Emry Dinman can be reached via email at edinman@columbiabasinherald.com.