In brief: Second suspect held in California attack

The second suspect in a Southern California torture attack was arrested Monday in Eugene, Ore.

Authorites arrested Frank Anthony Montoya, 46, on Monday afternoon.

He was booked into the Lane County Jail, according to jail records.

Montoya’s alleged accomplice, 21-year-old Damian Maple, was found hiding under a bed in a rural North Idaho home Monday morning.

The men face felony charges of torture, assault, battery and aggravated mayhem stemming from a Feb. 27 attack on an Australian tourist.

San Diego police say Maple and Montoya, who are transients, beat the tourist with a skateboard and threw him into a beach fire pit.

The case was featured on Saturday’s episode of “America’s Most Wanted.”

Maple isn’t from North Idaho, but officials said he has a friend who lives on the 13000 block of East River Road, about 16 miles north of Priest River, where federal agents found him.

Maple remained in the Bonner County Jail on Tuesday night awaiting extradition to California.

– Meghann M. Cuniff

ELDON, Wash.

Spokane man dies during scuba class

A 54-year-old Spokane man died during a scuba diving class in Hood Canal.

Mason County Coroner Wes Stockwell says John W. Gray apparently became separated from the rest of the class Saturday afternoon near Eldon.

Stockwell says another diver found Gray unresponsive and with his breathing regulator out of his mouth about 30 feet underwater. Gray could not be revived and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sheriff’s deputies are investigating, and an autopsy is planned.

Eldon is near the midpoint of Hood Canal.

– Associated Press

Airway Heights

Northern Quest raises betting limits

Northern Quest Casino has raised the stakes, offering high-limit poker games.

Starting Friday, the Kalispel Tribe of Indians-owned casino raised the betting limit from $40 a bet with three raises to $500 a bet with three raises on some Texas Hold’em games.

Two tables are dedicated to high-limit games daily, beginning at 10 a.m., according to a news release.

Many guests have asked for higher stakes, Janet Chavez, poker room supervisor, said in the release.

The Airway Heights casino also offers no-limit tournaments.

– Parker Howell