In brief: Infant girl’s death accidental, police say

Officials say the recent death of a 4-month-old baby girl was accidental. An autopsy was performed Monday.

Spokane police Sgt. Jason Hartman said he didn’t have all the details about who was supervising the child or the manner in which the baby died.

“But we do believe it was an accidental death,” he said

Police were called to a residence in the 1500 block of East 11th Avenue after medics brought the infant to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center.

Officers executed a search warrant at the home. The mother was out of town at the time. Hartman declined to say who was supervising the child. No arrests have been made.

“It’s still under investigation,” he said.

Thomas Clouse

Fee for taking GED test will double in October

The fee to take the GED test in Washington will double to $150 beginning Oct. 1, according to Community Colleges of Spokane.

The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges authorized the higher fee to help colleges and testing centers acquire the materials necessary to begin offering the test via computer in 2014, CCS said in a news release.

The fee hasn’t increased since 2004.

The GED (General Educational Development) test provides a high school equivalency diploma for students who didn’t graduate from high school.

Students who are prepared can take the GED tests at the current $75 fee until Oct. 1. For information on GED testing at Community Colleges of Spokane, visit www.iel.spokane.edu/GED.

Staff report

Judge orders Friedlund to remain in custody

A Stevens County man charged with stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the woman under his care has been ordered to remain in federal custody.

John “Herb” Friedlund, 79, sought release Monday. U.S. Magistrate Judge Cynthia Imbrogno instead ordered Friedlund detained.

Friedlund was indicted last week and pleaded not guilty in federal court Thursday to 11 counts of money laundering and five counts of failing to file income taxes on money he withdrew from the retirement accounts of Frances Swan, who is now 107.

Investigators allege he drained Swan’s retirement account and wired large sums to men around the world he met on the pornographic website gaysugardaddy.com. Similar charges have been filed against him in state court.

Thomas Clouse