Suspected cop shooter ordered to have no contact with fiancée

When 44-year-old Ernesto Rivas walked into a Mount Vernon courtroom Thursday he looked at his fiancée and smiled --- while she sat weeping.

Rivas was scheduled to enter a plea Thursday afternoon after being charged with attempted murder in the first degree, but his arraignment was delayed until next week.

Rivas is charged with shooting longtime Mount Vernon Police Officer Mike McClaughry in the head during a police standoff last month. Because of his injuries, McClaughry may be blind for life, according to his daughter’s social media posts.

In court on Thursday, the judge granted a no contact order on behalf of McClaughry.

He also ordered no contact between Rivas and Krystal Horton – the mother of his children -- because the prosecutor doesn’t want Rivas and Horton to compare notes about what happened the night McClaughry was nearly killed while responding to a gang-related shooting.

“We believe Ms. Horton will be an integral witness in the case at least,” Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Rosemary Kaholokula told KIRO 7 after the hearing.

“She appears to have been in the house” the night McClaughry was shot.

Horton admitted to being in the home on North Laventure Road at times on December 15th, but denies any criminal involvement.

“I can’t wrap my head” around the possibility she may be charged with a crime, she said.

“I am not by any means a co-defendant in this matter.

I have six children back at home,” she said.

“They come first.”

If convicted, Rivas could spend the rest of his life behind bars. Still, Horton supports the man she calls a wonderful father.

Ernesto Lee Rivas has been ordered to have no contact with Mike McClaughry, the Mount Vernon Police officer he's charged with attempting to murder. http://kiro.tv/SuspectedShooter
Posted by Amy Clancy on Thursday, January 19, 2017

She also expressed sympathy for Officer McClaughry.

“I’m very glad that he’s doing better and we’re still praying for him,” Horton said.

“We’re all victims in this.”

Rivas is expected back in court on January 26.

Horton acknowledged her fiancé’s extensive criminal record – including his gang affiliations – but said he hasn’t been involved in any gang activity recently.

The criminal charges filed by the Skagit County Prosecutor’s office on Wednesday allege Rivas was involved in an unrelated gang shooting the night he’s charged with shooting McClaughry.