PORT ANGELES — Kelvin Richard Banks, an expelled Forks High School student who allegedly threatened to kill a classmate last month, will get a new trial date April 19.
Clallam County Superior Court Judge Erik Rohrer on Friday granted a request to strike Banks’ May 7 trial date and scheduled a status conference for April 19.
Banks, 19, is charged with one count of felony harassment — threats to kill for allegedly threatening the life of a female classmate in a fourth period science class March 6.
Banks, who has maintained his innocence, posted a $100,000 bail March 22 and was placed on electronic home monitoring.
Rohrer on Friday denied defense attorney Alex Stalker’s request to lower Banks’ bail but signed a minute order allowing the teen to attend orthodontist appointments in Tumwater and job interviews.
Stalker told the judge that he may file a Knapstad motion, a pretrial procedure seeking dismissal of a charge for lack of proof, in Banks’ case.
Clallam County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Sarah Woolman made the request to reset the trial date, according to the minutes of the hearing.
Several witnesses to the alleged threats said Banks became agitated and upset with the 15-year-old girl.
Banks was alleged to have said “I wanna hurt her. I want to kill her” after he was confronted about alleged sexual comments he had made and about him allegedly staring at her, Forks police officer Julie Goode wrote in the affidavit for probable cause.
Police obtained a search warrant and found nine firearms in Banks’ home, including an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, which under state law Banks can own.
Banks was expelled from the school soon after the alleged threats.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
