'Remorseful' teen pleads guilty in attack on Washougal skier

VANCOUVER, Wash. — A 17-year-old charged in the beating of a Washougal cross-country skier last year has pleaded guilty to attempted murder in the second degree and is expected to take the stand as a witness in his father's prosecution.

Teven Collins had been charged as an adult with first-degree attempted murder and first-degree robbery in the attack on Kevin Tracey. He entered the plea to the lesser charge on Friday.

"Teven wanted to come forward for some time about taking responsibility and clearing his conscience," said Randall Krog, the youth's Stevenson-based defense attorney, on Saturday. "He's been remorseful and wanted to apologize to Mr. Tracey for quite some time."

Chris Lanz, chief deputy prosecuting attorney for Skamania County, said Collins has been added in a list of prosecution witnesses in the case against his father, 34-year-old Michael Collins. The trial is set to begin Monday.

"The state has agreed to come forward and make a recommendation for [Teven Collins], and he will come forward and testify for the state," Krog said. "But above and beyond that, he decided to come forward and clear his conscience and take responsibility for his actions, as well. Like he's said, 'I'm not going to live a lie.' "

Michael Collins, charged with first-degree attempted murder and first-degree robbery, could face life in prison without the possibility of release under Washington's "three strikes" law for persistent violent offenders if convicted on even one of those charges. His first two strikes are for second-degree assault and second-degree child molestation in Clark County.

According to official accounts, Tracey had been skiing near Dougan Falls on the Upper Washougal River when he was accosted on Feb. 9, 2009. The Collinses allegedly took Tracey's car keys, beat him senseless, choked him with a rope and dragged him to a wooded area to die, according to court documents.

Three hikers found him in the remote area and summoned help.

The father and son were apprehended March 25 in Ensenada, Mexico, shortly after the case was featured on a segment of the "America's Most Wanted" TV program. Skamania County sheriff's detectives used a tip generated by the TV show and Teven Collins' MySpace account to find the two.

The Collinses remain in the Skamania County Jail on $2 million bail.

Trial originally was scheduled for May, but the two waived their right to a speedy trial and it was postponed several times.

Because of extensive publicity, Michael Collins' attorney, Michael Thompson, requested a change of venue this month. The request was denied by Judge E. Thompson Reynolds.

Sentencing for Teven Collins has been set for Thursday. Under state sentencing guidelines, he could face between about seven years, eight months, and 13 years, nine months in prison.