Local News: June 27, 2000

Father may be charged in deaths

By SCOTT NORTH Herald Writer

The father of a teen charged with murdering two young men during a May 30 gun battle in the south Everett area may soon be facing murder charges himself, a Snohomish County judge was told Monday.

Dale B. Cramm, 44, stashed weapons around his yard, turning a high school fistfight "into something approaching the gunfight at the OK Corral," Jim Townsend, the county's chief criminal deputy prosecutor, told Superior Court Judge Larry McKeeman.

Cramm was arrested Friday after being charged with three drug-related felonies. But he also may be charged in connection with the deaths of Jason Thompson and Jesse Stoner, both 18, Townsend said.

Cramm's son, Dennis J. Cramm, 17, was charged last week with two counts of second-degree murder and ordered jailed in lieu of $500,000 bail. He has pleaded innocent.

The elder Cramm belongs behind bars on $75,000 bail in part because he could "at least" face manslaughter charges for his alleged role in the slayings, the prosecutor said.

A manslaughter conviction would require prosecutors to prove that Dale Cramm acted recklessly in the case.

Another option would be to bring homicide charges under a felony murder theory, with prosecutors alleging Stoner and Thompson died while the elder Cramm was committing another felony crime, in this case the offense of riot, Townsend said. Riot occurs when someone is armed with a deadly weapon and acts with three or more people to unlawfully use and threaten force against another.

Defense attorney Royce Ferguson of Everett asked McKeeman to consider lower bail for the elder Cramm. He was arrested for investigation of heroin possession early this month, freed on $20,000 bail, and has since had no problems with the law, Ferguson said.

But McKeeman said he has "significant concerns" about Dale Cramm and protecting community safety. He ordered Cramm to stay away from firearms and drugs if he is able to post $75,000 bail.

Stoner and Thompson died when seven bullets hit the car they were riding in after a fistfight between Dennis Cramm and a 16-year-old south Snohomish County youth erupted in gunfire at the Cramms' home just south of Everett. The fight reportedly was watched by a few dozen young people and as many as 10 adults, including Cramm's father.

Dale Cramm "was an active participant in the staging and planning of this fight," prosecutors alleged in court papers filed last week.

They also alleged that the elder Cramm may have hidden evidence key to the case.

Tests on 12 shells found at the scene show bullets were fired from two SKS semiautomatic rifles. Police found three SKS rifles in the Cramm home but tests show none of those weapons fired the fatal bullets, according to court papers.

Dale Cramm on Monday pleaded innocent to charges that he possessed marijuana with intent to sell and also possessed heroin and hallucinogenic mushrooms.

The drugs, a scale and packaging materials allegedly were found in the Cramms' home when police searched it after the shootings.

Evidence suggests Dale Cramm was "actively engaged" in selling marijuana, including to at least one juvenile, and his home contained "a large amount of firearms, including high-power semiautomatic rifles," prosecutors alleged.