Man is charged in roommate's death

A 41-year-old Seattle man was charged with first-degree manslaughter on Friday in connection with the death of his roommate, who had muscular dystrophy.

Peter Gullberg struck Stephanie Campeau in the head Tuesday during an argument inside their apartment in the 10400 block of 14th Avenue Southwest, near White Center, according to charging papers filed in King County Superior Court.

Campeau then took a nap. When Gullberg later noticed that she wasn't breathing normally, he called 911, court papers said.

Campeau died of head trauma Wednesday.

Gullberg is being held at the King County Jail in lieu of $1 million bail.

Seattle

College student ran large drug operation

A 28-year-old man who sold heroin and cocaine while attending classes at Cascadia Community College in Bothell was sentenced Friday to 13 years and four months in prison.

At Javier "Cookie" Sanchez-Vasquez's sentencing in U.S. District Court in Seattle, Judge Ricardo Martinez said the volume of drugs and cash found in connection to the operation was "one of the highest we've seen in federal court."

Sanchez-Vasquez was arrested April 9, 2007, when investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force found 35 pounds of cocaine and more than 22 pounds of heroin in his Kirkland home and a "stash house" he kept in North Seattle. Investigators also seized more that $1.1 million in cash Sanchez-Vasquez had stored in a various places around the state.

Adam Cornell, special assistant in the U.S. attorney's office, called Sanchez-Vasquez "the head of the snake," because he "had time to take classes at community college while his underlings were running around delivering drugs."

Sanchez-Vasquez will likely be deported after serving his prison term, federal officials said.

Three others also have been charged and convicted of their involvement in the drug ring.

Snoqualmie Pass

Avalanche work may delay traffic

Drivers heading westbound over Snoqualmie Pass this afternoon may be delayed an hour or more while the state Department of Transportation does avalanche-control work.

Drivers are advised to check out the DOT Web site, www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes/snoqualmie/, to find out where and when the avalanche-control-work closures will occur.

The pass received 48 feet of snow over the winter.

Bellingham

WWU confirms new president

Bruce Shepard was confirmed Friday as Western Washington University's 13th president.

Western trustees voted to hire Shepard, 61, who is chancellor of the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay.

The trustees had announced Shepard as their preferred candidate Wednesday. He has been on campus this week, meeting with faculty and students.

Western, with about 12,200 students, is the state's third-largest university.

Shepard will be paid $300,000 annually. He will also get deferred compensation of $25,000 a year and the use of a car. The university will provide him with an official residence or a $4,600-per-month housing allowance.

Shepard replaces Karen Morse, who is serving her 15th year as Western's president.

Shepard will take the reins Sept. 1.

Seattle Times staff and news services