New judge to preside over Orozco trial

DAYTON—The Columbia County Prosecutor’s office received notice on June 19 that Hon. M. Scott Wolfram of Walla Walla County will be appointed as the trial judge to hear State vs. Benjamin Orozco.

Orozco had previously filed a motion for an new judge. Hon. Gary Libey of Whitman County had previously been appointed. The trial date remains set for Aug. 12-23.

Orozco faces charges arising from the 1996 shootings of Lance Terry and David Eaton, who were shot in downtown Dayton. He is charged with second-degree murder for shooting Terry, who died from shots to the chest and abdomen, and first-degree assault against Eaton who sustained hand and knee injuries.

After the shooting, Orozco reportedly fled to Mexico where he lived until 2016, when he was arrested and held in a Mexican jail until his extradition to Columbia County. Since Dec. 2016, Orozco has been in a medical unit at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla.