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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sirens & Gavels archive for Dec. 2010

FRIDAY, DEC. 31, 2010


'One-man crime wave' headed to prison

A 30-time felon described by police as a "one-man crime wave" is headed to a Washington prison for a short-lived crime spree in Spokane last spring. Ricky Wayne Everett, 33, was sentenced to 43 months in prison this month for theft of a motor vehicle.…

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Man blames Ozzy Osbourne for arrest

CLEVELAND (AP) — An Ohio drunken-driving suspect is blaming his arrest on Ozzy Osbourne. William Liston was arrested Christmas Eve in suburban Cleveland. WJW-TV says he told police officers, "Ozzy Osbourne and his music made me do it." Osbourne's hits as lead singer of heavy…

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THURSDAY, DEC. 30, 2010

Dried leaves are visible in containers of incense not intended for human consumption at Enhale Smoke Shop in Tucson, Ariz., on Dec. 14, 2010. Federal authorities are planning to ban some of the chemicals found in a legal substance that they say, when smoked, gives a high similar to marijuana's but is potentially more dangerous.  (Greg Bryan / (AP Photo/Arizona Daily Star, Greg Bryan))

Pharmacy board bans synthetic pot 

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Washington state pharmacy board has voted to adopt a rule that would ban the sale and possession of synthetic marijuana. The board's emergency rule would mirror new Federal Drug Enforcement Administration rules banning five chemicals used to make synthetic marijuana.…

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Court OK's solitary for death row inmate

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The state Supreme Court ruled today that it was OK for corrections officials to move a death row inmate to solitary confinement after a special housing unit that allowed him more privileges was closed due to budget cuts. In a 7-2…

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Man to forfeit $1.4 mil in cash, cars

A Spokane Valley businessman pleaded guilty Wednesday to several counts of hiding financial transactions concerning the sale of stolen metals and agreed to forfeit about $1.4 million in cash, property and vehicles purchased with proceeds of the illegal transactions. Craig A. Dickson entered a plea…

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Driver in police shooting gets 77 months

A Spokane woman who was driving a stolen SUV when her passenger allegedly fired shots at a police officer has been sentenced to more than six years in prison. Margaret D. Shults, 23, pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery earlier this month and was sentenced to…

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Pieces of a 2002 Acura, stolen in a carjacking this morning, were scattered along Indiana Avenue after the driver, who died, lost control and struck a tree. The impact split the car in two pieces seen at left by investigators and in the middle of the photo next to the right tree.  (Mike Prager / The Spokesman-Review)

Boyfriend in fatal crash gets 15 years

A Spokane man involved in a carjacking that led to a fiery crash that killed his girlfriend has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. Michael L. Olson, 32, pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery and two counts of tampering with a witness and was sentenced…

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Burglary spree earns man 29 months

A burglary spree at Spokane convenience stores last winter recently earned a 30-year-old man about two years in prison. Michael L. Yamaguchi was sentenced to 29 months in prison for burglary and car theft charges related to eight burglaries, a few in which cars stolen…

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WEDNESDAY, DEC. 29, 2010

Bear parts buy deemed lesser offense

In the case of one Spokane man, the bear parts do not make up the sum of a felony. Appellate judges on Tuesday overturned the felony wildlife trafficking conviction of 52-year-old Jason M. Yon, after he paid $800 for four bear gallbladders in 2008 to…

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Retired clerk suspected of major theft

Kootenai County’s former chief deputy clerk is suspected of embezzling $138,905 over a 10-year period ending in October, a Coeur d’Alene Police Department spokesman said this morning. Sandy Martinson, 62, has not been charged or arrested, said Sgt. Christie Wood with the Coeur d’Alene Police.…

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Spokanite jailed in 3rd child porn probe

A convicted sex offender already under investigation for possessing child pornography was jailed recently after a new investigation revealed ongoing illegal activity, according to court documents. Shawn P. Sather, 34, was ordered to stay in Spokane County Jail without bail after appearing in U.S. District…

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Detectives are hoping for fresh clues in an armed bank robbery Dec. 2 in Spokane Valley.
A gunman demanded cash from two tellers at Sterling Savings Bank, 11205 E. Sprague Ave., about 2:25 p.m. after walking into the bank with his gun already displayed, according to Spokane Valley Police Department
 "The robber was so low-key and calm, several customers inside the bank at the time were not aware it was being robbed," according to a news release.
Tellers stuffed cash into blue cloths bags with a clinch drawstring at the top, and the robber placed the blue bags into a similar green bag and walked out the east doors of the bank. He was last seen walking eastbound.
He is described as a white man, 25 to 30 years old, 5-foot-6 and 130 pounds. He wore a dark jacket, blue jeans, a knit cap, a scarf covering his lower face and dark glasses over his eye. Police found the glasses, scarf and cap but have not identified a suspect. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for tips that lead to an arrest.
 (Spokane Valley Poilce Department)

Reward for tips on armed bank robber

Detectives are hoping for fresh clues in an armed bank robbery Dec. 2 in Spokane Valley. A gunman demanded cash from two tellers at Sterling Savings Bank, 11205 E. Sprague Ave., about 2:25 p,.m. after walking into the bank with his gun already displayed, according…

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Man accused of rape in downtown lot

A Spokane man is accused of raping a man in a downtown parking lot last weekend. Jonathan M. Ricardo, 31, is in jail on $150,000 bond for a second-degree rape charge. He was arrested Sunday after the alleged victim told police he was raped after…

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Mom, son, grandma face crack charges

The daughter of a Spokane woman accused of helping her 14-year-old grandson sell crack cocaine is facing a lengthy federal prison sentence for the same drug. Nicole D. Hilliard is "doing well" in treatment for drug treatment and is expected to participate until the middle…

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Oregon sex offender arrested in Idaho

A convicted sex offender with a lengthy criminal history in Oregon is accused of molesting a Post Falls girl. Roy L. Goldsborough, 51, is in Kootenai County Jail on $500,000 for one charge of lewd conduct with a minor. He’s accused of sexually abusing a…

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Gunfire over $40 leads to standoff

A Spokane man celebrated the holiday in jail after he was teargassed and arrested during an hours-long Christmas Eve standoff. Robert T. Finkbeiner, 44, is set for trial next month for allegedly shooting a woman in her leg last March during a fight over a…

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TUESDAY, DEC. 28, 2010

Suspected Grinch jailed in package thefts

Two men arrested last week may each be the Inland Northwest's version of the Grinch. Steven J. Karvela, 39, is suspected of stealing Christmas package from Spokane homes, then selling the would-be gifts at pawn shops. Joseph Michael O’Masters, 43, of Hayden Lake, was arrested…

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Reagan to leave sheriff's PIO spot

Longtime Spokane County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan is being transferred to the office’s internal affairs staff. Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich said today that he wants to hire a civilian to handle spokesman duties because he needs to fill a sergeant’s position in the division…

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SPD nabs Tri-Cities bank heist suspect 

Patrol officers arrested a suspected bank robber Monday night after detectives in the Tri-Cities tracked him to northwest Spokane. John T. Walker, 22, was arrested as he fled from a home at 2733 W. Wellesley Ave., about 9:45 p.m., according to a search warrant filed…

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THURSDAY, DEC. 23, 2010


'Santa Claus' sought in armed robbery

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Call it a ho-ho-holdup. Police say a man dressed as Santa Claus has robbed a Rhode Island yacht club. Authorities say a bartender was alone in the East Providence Yacht Club Sunday night when a large man wearing a red…

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Hammer attack victim improving in CdA

A woman seriously injured in a hammer attack that killed another woman is improving at a Coeur d'Alene hospital. Lorraine Y. Wallis, 58, has been upgraded to fair condition, Kootenai Medical Center employees said Wednesday. Wallis was in critical condition after being beaten with a…

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Andrew Gallo reacts as he is sentenced to 51 years in prison, in court in Santa Ana, Calif., Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010. At right is his attorney, Jacqueline Goodman. Gallo was convicted in September of three counts of second-degree murder and single counts of drunken driving, hit-and-run driving, and driving under the influence of alcohol and causing great bodily injury. Killed in the crash were Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart, 20-year-old Courtney Stewart and 25-year-old Henry Pearson. A fourth passenger, Jon Wilhite, was severely injured. (Mark Rightmire / (AP Photo/Mark Rightmire, Pool))

Man gets 50+ years for fatal DUI crash

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — A construction worker who killed a promising rookie pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels and two other people in a horrific drunken driving crash said Wednesday he had all but ended his own life that night by getting behind the…

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WEDNESDAY, DEC. 22, 2010

Suspect arrested in EWU recruit's murder

KENT, Wash. (AP) — Police say a suspect in a fatal Halloween shooting in Kent has an extensive criminal history. The 20-year-old Auburn man was caught Tuesday night after detectives got a tip, followed a car and chased down a passenger who tried to run…

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Public safety news from the Inland Northwest and beyond.




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