Man acquitted in girlfriend's death pleads guilty to harassment charge

YAKIMA -- A Naches man acquitted of shooting to death his girlfriend pleaded guilty Monday to a harassment charge in a related case.

Michael Spencer, 27, was sentenced to 30 days in jail after a confrontation between him and another man was caught on videotape at the Highland Quick Stop in May 2007.

The allegation was made while Spencer was out on bail pending trial for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Becca Tatum. Tatum, 23, was killed at the couple's Naches home in November 2006.

Spencer said he shot her accidentally while examining his newly purchased 9 mm pistol. Jurors found him innocent of murder charges, though some on the panel later wondered why prosecutors did not pursue a manslaughter case.

An state assistant attorney general who handled the matter for Yakima County said prosecutors believed the evidence merited the greater charge.

Experts for both prosecution and defense differed over whether Tatum, who was five weeks pregnant, had been shot once or twice. Only one shell casing was recovered.

Besides that dispute, the case created tension between the two families.

Spencer's supporters claimed he was set up for the harassment charge in order to keep him in jail. Spencer's parents described the victim as a friend of the Tatum family, although court records do not detail the relationship or the substance of the confrontation.

The deputy prosecutor who handled the case could not be reached Monday for comment.

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