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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sheriff Cleared Of Illegally Aiding Son

From Staff And Wire Reports

The Idaho attorney general’s office has cleared Latah County Sheriff Joe Overstreet in his son’s apparent attempt to elude authorities over a fight.

“They investigated and found nothing to (prove any impropriety),” Deputy Attorney General William von Tagen said. “They could not be substantiated. No crime had been committed.”

The state agency contacted then-deputy city attorney Kelly Mallard about Mallard’s repeated attempts to bring Overstreet’s son, John J. Overstreet, back to Latah County to face a battery charge.

In January, Mallard instructed Moscow police to arrest John Overstreet on sight for breaking an agreement to turn himself in.

According to a police report, the younger Overstreet, 22, allegedly sent two people to the hospital June 14, 1995, after a fight at Rathaus Pizza in Moscow. One of the two was a woman.

Magistrate William Hamlett signed a warrant for his arrest July 31, but he reportedly is attending Boston College.

Mallard said the attorney general’s office became interested in the case when new evidence allegedly revealed John Overstreet came to Latah County over the Christmas holiday and, allegedly with knowledge of the outstanding warrant, his father did not arrest him.

“That could be a breach of conduct,” Mallard said.

Because the battery charge is a misdemeanor, John Overstreet cannot be extradited.