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

Suspect faces more charges of stealing

Prosecutors have filed two dozen additional charges against a woman accused of stealing $25,000 from accounts she managed at a business that cared for people with disabilities.

Christina Ann Davis, 36, was the financial manager of Midstream Inc., which provided in-home care to 26 people in the Spokane area. The company lost state certification and went out of business in June after allegations against Davis came to light.

On Tuesday, documents were filed in Spokane County Superior Court alleging that Davis, the daughter of Midstream CEO Diane Knutson, stole from 25 people in Midstream’s care. She faces nine counts of first-degree theft, 12 counts of second-degree theft and four counts of third-degree theft.

An attempt to reach Davis’ attorney, Senit Lutgen, late Thursday was unsuccessful. In June, Lutgen said: “I intend to stand by Ms. Davis as she’s being persecuted in the media and as she’s prosecuted in the courts.”

Midstream managed its clients’ finances and had access to clients’ personal accounts.

According to court documents, Davis, also known as Christina Orvis, stole the money by having two people cash checks from client accounts at Moneytree. Police say that after an investigation began, she left a note on one of the check-casher’s cars asking him to “play along and act dumb” if contacted by police.

Davis confessed to the thefts after Spokane police Detective Kirk Kimberly showed her the note, court documents allege.

Gloria Thomsen, whose daughter was in Midstream’s care, said she received a check in the mail this summer from Knutson that reimbursed her daughter for the money stolen from her. The check came with an apology letter from Knutson.

Thomsen said transition from Midstream to another company has gone well.

“I don’t have any complaint about the care Midstream gave my daughter,” said Thomsen.