Newport man pleads guilty

NEWPORT – A 40-yearold Newport man was sentenced to over four years in prison for malicious mischief and possession of a stolen vehicle in Pend Oreille County District Court Thursday, Aug. 21. Ryan Apling pled guilty to malicious mischief in the first degree and two counts of possession of a stolen vehicle. In exchange for the pleas, several other charges were dismissed or amended. Apling received a 45 month sentence for possession of the stolen vehicles and a 25.5 month sentence for first degree malicious mischief. The sentences are to be served concurrently.

District Court Judge Robin McCroskey, acting in her role as superior court commissioner, cautioned Apling that he should strive to make sure this latest encounter with the courts should be his last.

“Mr. Apling, you’ve been in court as long as I have, back when you were a 12-year-old who wouldn’t go to school,” McCroskey said, referring to Apling’s extensive criminal history that dates to 2003 and includes an escape from Pend Oreille County Jail in February 2014. He was taken back into custody after a traffic stop a over a month later. “There are people, including myself who want to see you succeed in leaving this life behind, but this has to stop. I am beyond giving you a pep talk.”

According to the affidavit of probable cause, on Feb. 25, 2024, Pend Oreille County Sherif’s Deputy Michael Destito responded to a report of a suspicious circumstance at Jorgens Road. The complainant told Destito that her neighbor, Linda Lippencot, had passed away over a year ago and that someone had recently taken her white Chevy.

In the affidavit Destito reported he saw fresh tire tracks that looked to have been made, “in the last few days.” Destito checked the main residence on the property and saw there was forced entry at the back door. He reported that it appeared the door had been kicked in and the residence burglarized.

March 17, 2024 Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Deputy James Taylor reported he saw a white Chevy at the gas station in Cusick where Apling was filling it up at the pumps.

According to the affidavit Taylor approached Apling and asked him where he got the vehicle.

Apling reportedly replied that he did not have to tell Taylor because the vehicle was not stolen, and that Taylor could run the numbers. According to the affidavit, Apling would not give direct answers to Taylor’s questions regarding where he obtained the vehicle and Taylor told Apling that if the vehicle was reported stolen, Apling would be charged with a crime. In the affidavit Taylor said Apling told him he did not burglarize the residence.

Taylor said Apling had been living in the Chevy for several weeks. According to the affidavit, Taylor had the vehicle towed.

Apling was also charged with another count of possession of a stolen vehicle from an incident on March 27, 2024. According to court records, a man reported suspects were on his neighbor’s property stealing a truck, a Jeep and a trailer. The man said the stolen vehicles left the property heading towards Newport. Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Deputy Jacob Larson responded to the scene to investigate and found the residence had been broken into and “ransacked” according to court records. A traffic stop was conducted on March 29, where Apling and Amanda Suttles were found inside the vehicle.

Suttles was arrested on a warrant and Apling was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle and an additional possession of drugs charge for methamphetamine.

At the plea hearing last Thursday a victim statement was submitted on behalf of the victim by her son for the March 27, 2024, incident. The son did not appear in court, but he relayed through prosecuting attorney Dolly Hunt that his 82-yearold mother was afraid to leave her home.

Apling said he was sorry for what he had done and that his life had started to “spiral downwards” after he had been laid off from his job. Defense attorney Brett Billingsley expressed belief that Apling was remorseful and that his new relationship with a friend from high school was a good influence on Apling’s life.

McCroskey said she had heard apologies from Apling before, “yet here we are again.”

“This really needs to be the last time, Mr. Apling,” McCroskey said. “You need to make sure it is, because after this, you have run out of chances.”