Billy Chambers, who was convicted of manslaughter in the 2008 slaying of Ed “Tuba Man” McMichael, has pleaded not guilty to charges of hit-and-run and assault. Prosecutors say Chambers ran another motorist off the road on Jackson St near 23rd Ave in late June. He then fled the scene.
According to charging documents, prosecutors believe Chambers attacked the female victim because she had filed a police report against him in reference to an earlier car prowl. After ramming her car from behind, he allegedly pulled up next to her and turned into the passenger side of her car, causing her to run into a tree. He has been charged with hit-and-run and second degree assault.
He is currently being held on $250,000 bail. From the bail request document:
The State has grave concerns for the safety of the community and believes that there is reasonable cause to believe that the defendant will commit a violent offense. In this situation, the defendant was angry at the victim for filing a police report against him. He initially struck the rear of her vehicle, then moved into the lane next to hers and swerved into the passenger side of her car. This action caused her to lose control and strike a tree. While it is fortunate that no occupants of the car or pedestrians were injured, it does not lessen the risk that the defendant’s violent actions could harm someone.
The defendant’s criminal history adds to the concern that the defendant is a risk to community safety. His juvenile criminal history includes adjudications for Manslaughter in the First Degree, Robbery in the Second Degree, and Possessing Stolen Property in the First Degree. He has adult felony convictions of Theft in the First Degree (2011) and Theft in the Third Degree (2011). He has been charged in District Court with traffic offenses occurring on June 8, 2011, June 21, 2011, and June 22, 2011. In each, he has been charged with either Operating a Vehicle without a License or Operating a Vehicle without Insurance. He has demonstrated that he has no concern for the Court’s authority.
It’s not a question of ‘if’ but a question of ‘when’ he finally kills another human again, will it be life in prison or death penalty? This dude is a a complete waste of oxygen. Do away with him now, before another innocent life is lost.
It seems that all to frequently, we see a high priced lawyer fight off a possible valid conviction, or at least earn themselves enough TV time and public funds to make it worth keeping a client out of jail as long as possible. I love that we have these rights to a public defender ( at tax payor expense ), but I often wonder how much real justise do most of us feel we the public are getting? Is it possible that this younge man ( ? ) may have the valid opinion that he will again get little more than a light slap on the wrist, only to be out on the street looking for…. who, you, me next time?
It just seems sometimes we ignore the crime and victim, and are somehow re-focused to look at the accused as something other than a criminal. The defendant’s lawyer ( and often TV ), seem to want us to think of the accused as somehow down-trodden, poor, humble, and misunderstood! Well what about OUR brave neighbor that was run off the road? What about her safety and rights? I would like to see this victim made safe, and to see this crime truly be recognized as the violent, unacceptable act we the citizens should not need to face again.
Unfortunately the justice system is designed to benefit and protect the rat – criminal and not the victim. It’s time to change all that.
Dear Tom,
Why have you not provided photos of Billy Chambers in the past two articles on his crimes? He is an adult (18) and the Seattle Times article on 6/28/11 included a photo of Chambers. I believe it is acceptable in the US to show photos of adult suspects in news coverage.
Unless there is a valid CDN editorial policy on this or a copyright on images of Chambers, I would ask that you post his photo on this story and any future stories associated with Chambers. It’s important our community becomes familiar with his face.
http://search.komonews.com/default.aspx?ct=r&q=%22tuba+man%2
Just in case this worthless sack gets out on the street again. We can all see who he is and either run, call the police, or maybe pick up your Louisville slugger.
That was not an editorial decision. I just didn’t have one (that we have rights to, etc). I’ll track one down, but in the meantime here’s a link to a good photo from the Times: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/theblotter/2015452970_
The comment about a “Louisville slugger” makes me more than a little nervous. I may believe, as an earlier post indicated, that our legal system needs to be reviewed to make it truly address the crimes, the victim needs, and corrective measures that really mean something to the criminal, but I would consider an unprovoked attack on Chambers to be no more justified than his alleged attack on our neighbor. Violence does not need to lead to more violence, so lets get the legal system to work, and get these pathetic thugs off the street.
Don’t be ridiculus, the US has one of the highest incarceration rates, if not the highest, in the world. Our prosecutors may not always be able to make their case but we do lock a lot of people up. This clown certainlyly deserves no freedom and I hope he is locked up for a long time. I agree he will not stop unless he is put away, hopefully before he kills someone else. It’s too bad the proscution didn’t have the evidence/witnesses to charge this guy and his partners as adults for the Tuba man murder.
Oh that’s cute ‘let’s get our legal system to work’.. The legal system is designed to care for the criminals, NOT the victims, it will always be that way. Violence does beget violence, I give you that, but sometimes the rats only learn the hard way, especially since they learn from a very early age how to work the system to their advantage.
I’m going to assume that Joel suggested picking up a baseball bat to fight Mr. Chambers off if we saw him coming at us with a car, not attack him unprovoked.