Legal action from the state’s highest court puts the Eagle Creek homicide case one step closer to a trial.

Stephen Nichols, a man accused of a 2009 murder in Hood River County, on Friday pled guilty to a separate charge of sex abuse, in Washington County.

A court hearing Wednesday mulled over release conditions and considered an alleged violation of Miranda rights for 2009 Eagle Creek murder suspect, Stephen Nichols.

The Hood River County Courthouse shifted into murder hearing mode Monday.

A Bend man accused of killing his girlfriend six years ago while hiking Eagle Creek Trail pleaded not guilty to murder Monday.