In brief: Items found in search may be stolen
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office recovered numerous stolen items, including jewelry, power tools and antiques, when it executed a search warrant at a residence on the 1200 block of North Oak Street Tuesday.
Sheriff’s Cpl. Justin Elliot was following up with a local business when he saw Christopher Steinbaugh, 32, allegedly selling stolen property to the business. Elliot followed Steinbaugh to the Oak Street residence, and stopped him shortly after he re-emerged from the home. Steinbaugh was in possession of suspected stolen items.
Investigators then executed a search warrant on the Oak address, where 35-year-old Russell Foust was taken into custody on possession of methamphetamine and obstructing a public servant charges.
There were several other suspected stolen items inside the residence. The Sheriff’s Office said the investigation is ongoing, and more charges are expected to be filed from this incident.
Check the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page to see if your stolen items are available to be reclaimed.
Afghan case lawyer objects to request
SEATTLE – The lead civilian lawyer for a U.S. soldier accused of massacring 17 Afghan villagers in March is objecting to a government request that he undergo a background check.
Seattle attorney John Henry Browne said the Army has requested that all civilian members of Staff Sgt. Robert Bales’ defense team undergo the check to obtain security clearances for reviewing any classified evidence.
That’s standard when classified evidence may be at issue.
Browne said it’s troubling that to protect his client’s legal rights, he and his associates would be subject to intrusive vetting by the government.
He notes that the background form asks questions about counseling and he would need extra space to write about his seven marriages.
‘Barefoot Bandit’ out of solitary
SEATTLE – The youthful thief who led a two-year crime spree in stolen boats, cars and planes is out of solitary confinement.
The Washington Department of Corrections confirmed Thursday that Colton Harris-Moore was transferred from Walla Walla State Penitentiary to Stafford Creek Corrections Center in Aberdeen.
A spokesman said the 21-year-old known as the “Barefoot Bandit” had been in intensive management with death row inmates as soon he began his sentence because he was a high-profile prisoner. He was placed Wednesday with the general population at Stafford Creek.
His lawyer, John Henry Browne, said says Harris-Moore is enrolling in a GED program and will have better access to counseling at Stafford Creek as he serves his seven-year sentence.