In brief: Coeur d’Alene man found dead in lake

A man was found dead in Lake Coeur d’Alene Tuesday morning.

Ira L. Loudenback, 76, of Coeur d’Alene, did not have visible injuries to his body, and police are investigating, said Sgt. Christie Wood.

A couple walking their dog spotted his body about 8:15 a.m. a short distance from the shore of Sanders Beach.

There have been no reports of a missing person in recent days, Wood said.

Loudenback led Coeur d’Alene police on a wild chase in 2008 that was featured on the cable television show “Most Daring: Senior Smackdowns.”

Police say he refused to pull over his 1987 Oldsmobile on July 3, 2008, then drove the wrong way on U.S. Highway 95 and rammed several cars.

Meghann M. Cuniff

Spokane man convicted of rape

A Spokane jury on Monday convicted a 22-year-old man of raping a woman more than a year ago.

Brandon S. Coristine cried, sighed and buried his head in his hands after Spokane County Superior Court Judge Michael Price read the verdict.

The jury of five women and seven men found Coristine guilty of second-degree rape after about two full days of deliberation and a four-day trial.

Coristine raped a woman who was passed out drunk at his home at 2304 W. Broadway Ave. on Dec. 7, 2008.

Charges were filed on Aug. 31, after the Washington State Patrol crime lab confirmed Coristine’s DNA, according to court documents.

Coristine, who is in jail, will be sentenced March 3.

Meghann M. Cuniff

Meth Project plans forum tonight

The Idaho Meth Project will host a free family forum for parents and children tonight at North Idaho College to remind the community of the negative effects of methamphetamine use.

The forum will feature a talk by Coeur d’Alene resident Brian Lux, who became addicted to meth while in high school and now volunteers for the Meth Project. Attendees also will have an opportunity to speak with health care experts and with law enforcement officials.

The forum will be held at 7 p.m. in NIC’s Boswell Hall, 1000 W. Garden Ave., Coeur d’Alene.

The Idaho Meth Project, a nonprofit organization devoted to reducing methamphetamine use statewide, began in January 2008. For more information, visit www.idahomethproject. org.

Staff reports