Ilk pleads not guilty in shooting case

Michael Ilk appeared before District Judge James Wheelis Monday morning and entered not guilty pleas on six charges stemming from an incident in which he allegedly fired a 9mm handgun at his ex-girlfriend and her co-worker in Eureka April 15.

According to the charging documents, Ilk fired 14 rounds from his handgun at Hadassah Pereslete, his ex-girlfriend, and her co-worker Tyler Wilson near the Eureka Hills subdivision. The victims fled the scene in Pereslete’s car while calling for law enforcement assistance, but not before both were injured by gunshots.

Ilk chased the pair all the way to the Law Enforcement Center in Eureka, where he was arrested without further incident.

Ilk is charged two counts of attempted deliberate homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, one count of partner-family member assault and one count of evading or eluding a peace officer. The aggravated assault charges have alternate charges of assault with a weapon. A jury could convict of either, but not both, of those charges.

Ilk’s attorney, Sean Minchey, called Ilk and his sister, Michells Ferguson, to testify before Judge Wheelis on a motion for bail modification.

In his testimony, Ilk said he’s never been in legal trouble before and would agree to any monitoring terms and a waiver of extradition should Wheelis release him.

Ferguson, whose husband is a police officer in Calgary, said the behavior was completely out of character for her brother. Should Judge Wheelis release Ilk, he would be able to stay in her home, with her husband and two young children. She promised the judge she would make sure Ilk appeared for any court dates.

Detective Duane Rhodes of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office was called to testify by prosecuting attorney Joseph Cik. Rhodes said even should Ilk be released by Lincoln County, he would be detained by Customs and Border Protection in Yakima for deportation proceedings.

Judge Wheelis declined to reduce the bail, which had been previously set at $1,000,000 by Justice of the Peace Jay Sheffield. Ilk’s next appearance is June 22.