In brief: Guard reportedly OK’d sex, drugs

WENATCHEE – Inmates at a Chelan County jail were able to pay for sex and use drugs under the supervision of one of the jail guards, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

One inmate may have even run a drug ring from inside the jail walls.

Corrections officer Charles B. Storlie, 40, was charged with forgery for inserting information into a computer record that allowed the early release of an inmate by a few hours. The investigation into Storlie’s charges shed light on the alleged activities in the minimum security annex, the Wenatchee World reported.

In one instance, an inmate “was suspected of running a methamphetamine trafficking organization from within (the jail) by using jail telephones and prohibited cell phones,” Chelan County sheriff’s Detective Jeff Dilks wrote in a court document.

Authorities say Storlie was paid $150 by inmates to be allowed to have sex with their girlfriends inside the jail.

One inmate interviewed by investigators said Storlie charged inmates $50 to allow them “to possess and use their cell phones while housed in the annex,” according to the court documents.

Storlie has been placed on administrative leave. Deputy Prosecutor Roy Fore declined to comment on the report, but added that he doesn’t expect any other corrections officers to be charged.

Judge dismisses land sale lawsuit

LEWISTON – A state court judge tossed a lawsuit against the University of Idaho Foundation that had been filed by a man who was spurned in his bid to buy a 120-acre parcel on a north-central Idaho mountain.

Judge Carl B. Kerrick dismissed Clarkston resident Steve Heitstuman’s lawsuit in 2nd District Court, clearing the way for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game to take over the property on Craig Mountain.

The foundation, which owns the land, rejected Heitstuman’s bid of $126,000 cash in favor of a $122,000 bid from the state agency.

Kerrick didn’t buy Heitstuman’s contention that the UI Foundation had to take the highest offer because it was the university’s alter ego and was bound by state bidding rules.

The judge said a letter from the foundation inviting Heitstuman to bid and his subsequent high bid didn’t equal a contract.