Inmates plead case

July 25, 2006

By MARY AMES

Frontiersman

PALMER - Several fellow prison inmates wrote letters supporting a motion for a sentence reduction for a woman who killed her wheelchair-bound boyfriend by setting him on fire.

Niobie Ewing, 32, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in July 2004 for the death-by-fire of Thomas Bourbeau, 56, in August 2004. Bourbeau was disabled and confined to a wheelchair. As part of her plea agreement, Ewing accepted a possible sentence of 40 to 60 years in prison. In January, Superior Court Judge Beverly Cutler handed Ewing a 60-year sentence.

In a motion filed July 18, Leslie Hiebert, Ewing's Anchorage attorney with the Office of Public Advocacy, requested 20 years of Ewing's sentence be suspended.

Ewing has been lodged at Hiland Mountain Correctional Center for the past two years. In that time, Ewing worked in the GED classroom and assisted inmates getting their GEDs, according to Hiebert.

According to Hiebert's letter, &#8220Since her incarceration, Niobie Ewing has become aware that she has the ability to help others and be a positive influence on their lives.”

Several inmates at Hiland wrote letters in support of Ewing's request, saying she was a role model and inspiration for them.

Suzette Welton, 42, was sent to prison in 2003 for drugging her sons and setting their home on fire in September 2000. The fire killed Samuel Welton, 14.

Welton's letter said she has known Ewing since 2004. Ewing and Welton get along well, Welton wrote.

&#8220What I have noticed is that, no matter what attitude the ladies here have, and they can have some bad attitude's, Niobie keeps her cool,” Welton wrote. &#8220She has a great personally, very funny and great to get along with.”

Kira Gray, 17, is at HCC awaiting trial on charges of kidnapping and murder for the May 2005 death of Terell Houngues, whose body was found on a dirt trail about Mile 57 Parks Hwy. Gray was 16 and visiting from Hawaii when she and three men were arrested for the death.

Gray started her incarceration in solitary confinement, she wrote, and met Ewing in September. Ewing taught her to cope and helped her through some of the hardest times of her life, Gray wrote.

Ewing helped Gray get her GED in two-and-a-half months, and Gray has signed up for student loans so she can take college courses, she wrote.

&#8220Even though I'm not Niobies Daughter shes still got the parent in her and as a child I respond and its leading me to success,” Gray wrote. &#8220Niobies a wonderful person if she got another chance she'd go father than she is.”

Etta M. Bavilla, 33, pleaded no contest to first-degree murder in Dillingham in August 2000. In her letter of support, Bavilla wrote that Ewing is bright, intelligent and &#8220motivated to do good with her life, as best she can while being incarcerated.”

Bavilla and Ewing are both in the &#8220Healing Opportunities through Program Education” wing of the prison, where Ewing has taken anger management and victim impact classes, and she has helped countless individuals in her job as an education assistant and tutor, Bavilla wrote.

&#8220Personally, she has shown tremendous remorse for her crime, she doesn't seem to have ‘criminal pride,' has compassion of others, listens with an open ear and literally lends a helping hand whenever and wherever she can,” Bavilla wrote.

Michelle Porterfield, 41, was charged with first-degree murder and arson in Fairbanks in 1999. Porterfield was convicted by a jury and sentenced in 2000. Porterfield already was an inmate in the HOPE wing when Ewing arrived, and in the time she has known her, Ewing has done a lot of changing, Porterfield wrote.

&#8220She is much more relaxed and is a kinder person than upon her arrival,” Porterfield wrote. &#8220She has made efforts to put her past behind her and become a new person.”

Darlena Eaves, 32, is serving time for two 2004 cases of theft, fraud, forgery, criminal impersonation and making false statement for unemployment benefits. Eaves, who also assists inmates in getting their GEDs, wrote that she is in the same HOPE wing as Ewing and Bavilla.

&#8220The encouragement Niobie offers is irreplaceable and greatly appreciated throughout the institution,” Eaves wrote.

&#8220The main focus of the HOPE wing is to help inmates learn coping skills and gain a better understand of the thinking errors used by criminals.”

Several other inmates wrote to support Ewing's motion to have 20 years of her sentence suspended, including Sherry Creech, 48, who is serving time for felony driving under the influence in Palmer in 2004; Joni Jacoby, 21, who is serving a sentence for a 2004 charge of second-degree theft and second-degree robbery in Anchorage; Paula Roberds, 21, sentenced for practicing prostitution in Anchorage in 2004; Christine Frisby, 29, sentenced for a felony DUI in Fairbanks in 2005; Elizabeth Morgan, 18, sentenced for first-degree robbery, second-degree assault and second-degree theft in Anchorage in 2005; Victor Vantyler, sentenced for an Anchorage felony DUI in 2005; Delinda Watkins, 21, sentenced in Fairbanks for second-degree burglary, fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance and fourth-degree theft in 2005; and Ewing's teenage son, James.

James Ewing lived with his mother and Bourbeau and was at the house the day Ewing poured gasoline on Bourbeau and ignited the fire with a lighter. Bourbeau beat his mother everyday they lived together, James Ewing wrote.

&#8220The only reason my mother burnt down that house was because for once in her life, Tom had pushed too many of her buttons and she went temporareily crazy.” James Ewing wrote. &#8220If Tom wos still alive, he should be rotting in jail, not my loving mother.”

Editor's note: Quotes from letters were not edited

Contact Mary Ames at 352-2284 or mary.ames@frontiersman.com.