Deputy Suspended For Leak Sheriff Charges ‘Politics’ Behind Report Given To Newspaper

A Nez Perce County sheriff’s deputy has been suspended with pay while department officials investigate whether he is involved in an alleged political attempt to discredit Sheriff Ron Koeper.

Deputy Steve Smith wrote a report criticizing another deputy for allegedly being lax about jail security. The report was provided anonymously to the Lewiston Morning Tribune.

Koeper is being challenged in November’s general election by Republican Randy Kingsbury, a Lewiston police sergeant.

“There’s more to this than meets the eye. It’s a political thing,” Koeper said Wednesday. “I definitely think Kingsbury is behind it.”

In his report, Smith accused Sheriff’s Cpl. Steve Lutes of knowing that hacksaw blades might be hidden in the jail 11 days before murder suspect Edwin Twitchell allegedly was caught trying to saw through a bar on his cell window. Smith said Lutes did not search for the hacksaw blades and therefore placed jail staff in potential danger.

Three 6-inch pieces of hacksaw blade reportedly were found in Twitchell’s cell Aug. 15, just days before his first-degree murder trial for the death of his infant son.

Nez Perce County Prosecutor Denise Rosen used evidence of the alleged escape attempt at Twitchell’s trial last week to show consciousness of guilt. But the jury deadlocked on the murder charge and a new trial will be scheduled.

Twitchell will be arraigned Sept. 18 on an attempted escape charge.

Koeper said he had not seen Smith’s report, but had heard something about the incident in which an inmate told Lutes he had found a piece of a hacksaw blade. The inmate has a history of mental problems and had just been caught smoking, which is banned in the jail, Koeper said.

“Sometimes these guys tell you things and you don’t believe them and sometimes we’re wrong,” the sheriff said.

Smith’s report was provided anonymously to the Lewiston Morning Tribune last week after the Twitchell jury had begun deliberations.

Sheriff’s Lt. Ron Hall said the report seemed to be an effort to show jail security and administration - and Koeper - in a negative light.

“They were hoping for a mistrial. It’s a cheap political trick screwing with the sheriff,” Hall said.

Kingsbury said Wednesday evening that his campaign had nothing to do with the report and declined further comment. His co-worker, Lewiston Police Cpl. Dan Smith, is Steve Smith’s brother.