Suspects indicted in Harrah killing

Suspects indicted in Harrah killing

YAKIMA -- Two men pleaded innocent Wednesday in U.S. District Court to assault charges related to last month's fatal beating of a man near Harrah.

A grand jury on Tuesday indicted Lance Frank, 34, and Johnathon Frank, 19, on a charge of assault resulting in serious injury or death in connection with the death of Daniel Simmons.

Simmons, a 42-year-old member of the Quinault Indian Nation on the Washington coast, was killed outside Harrah.

Charges against a third man initially accused in the beatings were dropped earlier this week.

Authorities say the men -- both members of the Yakama Nation -- beat Simmons to death during a brawl in the middle of Harrah Road on July 10.

The case is being pursued in federal court because all the men who were allegedly involved are Native Americans and because the incident took place on a county road on the reservation.

Yakima County sheriff's detectives, who helped investigate the case, say Simmons and the suspects lived near each other and were involved in a running feud.