Prosecutor’s record sterling

In his March 19 column, Doug Clark attacked Prosecutor Larry Steinmetz, using analogies to the Super Bowl and Mister Rogers.

In any event, the Olsen case was not Mr. Steinmetz’s first “Super Bowl.” Remember sheriff’s Deputy Thomas DiBartolo? Convicted of murdering his wife in 1997. Mr. Steinmetz’s case. Do you remember James Barstad? In 1996, Barstad, driving drunk, killed two people at the corner of Hamilton and Mission right here in Spokane. Mr. Steinmetz’s case. Successfully convicted of two counts of first-degree murder, the first such vehicular death successfully tried as a murder case in this state.

Brad Jackson? 1999 murder of his daughter? Mr. Steinmetz’s case.

More recently, Summer Phelps? Both Lytles convicted of homicide by abuse. Mr. Steinmetz’s cases.

The list of “Super Bowls” won by Mr. Steinmetz’s efforts simply is too long. Did you know he personally and successfully handles the endless appeals in most of them?

This is just a short list. The victims and victims’ families of our community are well-served by the diligent and professional handling of hundreds of such cases by Mr. Steinmetz.

Brian O’Brien

Spokane County deputy prosecutor