Briefly

Inmates charged in cellmate’s death

Two Spokane County Jail inmates with violent histories were charged Wednesday with allegedly strangling to death a third inmate in their jail cell in October.

Michael L. West Jr., 28, is charged with first-degree murder and Brandon W. Martin, 20, is charged with second-degree murder for the killing of Christopher L. Rentz, 21. West and Martin had been named by the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office soon after the incident as the inmates responsible for the death. However, the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office did not file charges against them until Wednesday.

Rentz was in a dormitory cell in the jail’s psychiatric unit with West, Martin, and James Felice. He had been jailed for allegedly stealing $23.04 worth of fuel from a north Spokane gas station, and hitting the arm of the station attendant in the process. He was facing a charge of second-degree robbery.

West was in jail facing rape, assault and kidnapping charges, and Martin for killing two men in October 2003, for which he has pleaded innocent “by reason of insanity.”

Rentz’s family has filed a $4.9 million claim against Spokane County that alleges he should not have been housed with men facing such violent charges.

Spokane United Way must cut allocations

Spokane’s United Way chapter has announced steep cuts this month to dozens of social service programs in anticipation of more fund-raising woes.

The chapter said it will reduce allocations to health and social services agencies next year by 18 percent, or about $360,000.

Since 2002, the Spokane chapter has cut nearly three-quarters of a million dollars from its allocations, or about 30 percent. The new cuts will go into effect in January.

“The amount of money we’re receiving on the pledges is falling short,” said Garman Lutz, United Way Spokane’s interim director. “We can’t continue to give more money than we’re collecting.”

United Way leaders hoped that slight improvements in Washington’s economy – coupled with a new fund-raising approach – would reverse a downward trend.

After mix-up, bank account for fire victims open

Dozens of callers offered financial help Wednesday to a family who lost its home and several pets in a Tuesday fire in northwest Spokane County. However, because of a mix-up, an account to help the family wasn’t activated until 2:45 p.m. Wednesday.

“I was just so disheartened,” said Carol Brazington, who called to set up the account at U.S. Bank branches. “Hopefully, people will come back and make contributions.”

Brazington owns Adult Family Homes, where Gabrielle Thomas works as a nurse’s assistant.

Thomas got off her night shift and was shopping for groceries Tuesday morning when she got the call that her family’s home at 11515 N. Craig was burning. Her daughter, 27-year-old Gisela Thomas, suffered smoke inhalation when she rescued two dogs and a cat. Three dogs and at least four cats were killed.

All the family possessions were destroyed in the fire. The mobile home was not insured.

Brazington bought Thomas clothes on Wednesday because she has nothing else to wear.

The American Red Cross received several calls from people offering to provide everything from a place to stay, to more cats.

The family has geese, ducks, rabbits, chickens, cats, dogs and five horses. “There’s not a stray animal that she would not take in. She would not eat herself so she could care for her animals,” Brazington said.

Anyone wishing to donate clothes or other items can drop them off at Adult Family Homes, 2021 S. Rebecca St. For information, call 535-5511.

Cash donations can be made to the Gabrielle Thomas Family Trust Fund at any area U.S. Bank branch.

Man charged with illegally gathering firewood

Moscow, Idaho A U.S. Forest Service maintenance employee who is married to a ranger has been accused of illegally gathering firewood.

Federal prosecutors allege Rodney J. Lane of Kooskia gathered enough firewood July 7 to fill a pickup in a prohibited area along U.S. Highway 12, about six miles west of Lowell.

The area is within the Middle Fork of the Clearwater Wild and Scenic River portion of the Clearwater National Forest.

Lane’s firewood permit prohibits taking wood from all areas with a wild and scenic designation, according to court documents.

Lane is married to Cynthia Lane, ranger of the Lochsa District of the Clearwater National Forest. One of her duties is to enforce wild and scenic river regulations.

Rodney Lane declined to comment until after the trial, which is scheduled for Jan. 11.

If convicted of the misdemeanor, he faces a maximum fine of $5,000 and the possibility of six months in prison.

However, federal prosecutors usually waive any jail time in most similar cases, Assistant U.S. Attorney Traci J. Whelan of Coeur d’Alene said.

Two women injured in knife fight

Two Spokane Valley women were injured in a fight Wednesday.

The injuries were not serious enough that either woman had to be hospitalized, although both got medical treatment for minor stab wounds.

The women met at the Blue Dolphin bar and began threatening each other and calling each other names, according to the Spokane Valley Police Department.

A 25-year-old woman left the bar with friends and went to a house in the 11000 block of East Augusta Avenue. A 21-year-old woman showed up at the same residence about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, according to a press release from police.

The two women allegedly began fighting at the house. At least one of the women had a knife, police said. Both women were stabbed with the knife during the scuffle. The 21-year-old was most seriously injured. She was taken to a downtown hospital for treatment of a puncture wound in the leg, police said.

Detectives were investigating the matter and had not made any arrests as of Wednesday afternoon.