Spokane7
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September 21, 2010 in City
Killer found dead in Spokane County Jail cell
Devlin was sentenced last week for murdering accuser
A man sentenced to life in prison last week for murdering one of his accusers in a 2007 assault case was found dead in the Spokane County Jail early Monday.
Christopher H. Devlin, 57, didn’t get out of bed when served breakfast about 6:30 a.m., but a jailer thought he saw his leg move, assumed he was refusing to eat, and removed the meal, said sheriff’s Lt. Aaron Anderton.
Another employee found Devlin dead about 8:30 a.m., Anderton said.
Devlin was found face down in his bed. There were no obvious signs of violence.
Anderton said Devlin’s death appears to have been self-inflicted or from natural causes but said investigators are awaiting an autopsy. An estimated time of death will help investigators determine if procedures were followed when Devlin didn’t retrieve his breakfast at 6:30 a.m., Anderton said.
The situation is similar to the Nov. 11 death of Fredrick James Juhnke, who had died from a burst artery but lay in his cell for eight hours before jail deputies found him.
Two deputies were disciplined in that case: one was fired and one resigned, including a deputy who falsified jail logs to try to hide the fact that they didn’t make half-hourly checks on inmates as required.
Devlin had no criminal record before Aug. 18, when a Stevens County jury convicted him of the May 2008 slaying of 52-year-old Daniel Heily, who was to testify against Devlin in an assault case.
Devlin’s lawyer, Mark Vovos, said he was to meet with his client on Monday to discuss an upcoming restitution hearing.
“This is just shocking,” Vovos said. “I don’t know what to say. I feel terribly for his family.”
Devlin had been alone in his cell since Friday, two days after he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for aggravated murder, Anderton said.
Heily’s family spoke at the hearing, describing Heily as a loving man and calling Devlin a “psychopath,” “thug,” “despicable individual” and “tyrannical plague.”
Vovos said Monday that Devlin “was a good soul.”
Anderton said Devlin had no documented behavior problems. He was housed with 45 other inmates in a medium-security unit designed for “some of our better inmates” who are “a little older, a little calmer,” Anderton said.
The inmates were kept alone in their cells on the weekend but allowed out anywhere between three to six hours a day during the week, Anderton said. Anderton said medication is typically distributed to inmates on a daily basis but that some are “quite skilled” at hiding it.
“It’s possible someone could have given him prescription medications that weren’t his,” Anderton said. “The autopsy will tell.”
Vovos said he’d complained about Devlin’s medical treatment at the Spokane County Jail.
“We’ve raised all sorts of problem with his pain and what they weren’t doing at the jail,” Vovos said. “He was very happy in Stevens County. Spokane is a hard time.”
Vovos had intended to appeal Devlin’s conviction.
Heily was shot to death, and though Devlin was convicted of the murder, the jury ruled he was not armed with a firearm.
The only sentences for aggravated murder in Washington are life in prison or the death penalty.
Superior Court Judge Jerome Leveque ruled out the death penalty in February because prosecutors withheld from defense lawyers information about where the murder was committed.
Devlin’s trial sparked a squabble between Stevens and Spokane counties about the crime scene location and which county should pay for the trial. The case ended up being handled by Spokane County prosecutors but decided by a Stevens County jury in Colville.
Human trafficking suspects released 
hawken on September 21 at 7:33 a.m.
This article affirms the points I made yesterday, 9/20 relating to this same issue. There are some very professional jailers, supervisors and commanders. Unfortunately, too many jailers and sergeants reportedly treat inmates with contempt, lack of respect and seem to have the mindset that their primary purpose is to make life totally miserable for inmates. As I said yesterday, I’ve never been in jail,,,, ever…. But, I do have a considerable amount of distinguished, state law enforcement experience working with jailers in another state. Also, as I mentioned in yesterday’s article, I have first hand reports from a good friend who has spent some DUI time in the Spokane County Jail. Abuse of power, excessive force and contempt for people under arrest seem to be acceptable behavior in Spokane County and Seattle for that matter. There are far too many examples to cite here…. most recently a deputy that shot and killed a man on his own property… then there’s the handicapped man who was beat to death by Spokane officers…. How about the fact that the deputy that shot and killed the local pastor, also choked a man to death, with impunity, while employed by a CA police department…. I think that’s enough examples to make my point.
bdr on September 21 at 9:15 a.m.
Im certain that bed will be filled in 2 seconds with another lifer.
thugs are a dime a dozen.
Diana on September 21 at 3:24 p.m.
Mark Vovos is a good soul.
mikemitchel on September 21 at 6:24 p.m.
I would have to disagree with Vovos’ assessment that Devlin was “a good soul”. Devlin was convicted of murdering a man that I personally knew for 30 years. Daniel Heily was the one that was a good soul. Devlin seems to have come to the fate that he should have been sentenced to, if the prosecutors had not mishandled some discovery information. At least Vovos’ will not be wasting taxpayer’s money appealing the proper conviction of a Murderer.
Mike Mitchel
San Diego, CA
D Statler on September 23 at 4:39 p.m.
The term: PROSECUTORAL MISCONDUCT sure does come up alot in Spokane County. I wish they would try to do things correctly the first time.This guy might have been guilty.He still deserved a fair trial and humain treatment under the law.There have been alot of guilty people go free and innocent people put behind bars by Spokane’s prosecutors office. Please remember this when looking at TUCKER’s name on your voters ballot coming soon.
All the Sargents at the County jail need to spend a day on the other side of the bars.Things might be alittle different.There is NOBODY being held down there getting three to four hours out time a day. This is a bold lie,easily checked upon. Spokane County Jail is one of the worst offenders of human rights anywhere.Hopefully if you are reading this,you will never have a loved one locked up down there.The Sargents treat the visitors and family members just as bad as the inmates.Their behavior is repulsive,their attitude is just plain terrible!