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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Craig Ehlo receiving treatment in Massachusetts; court date pushed

The arraignment for former NBA player and Eastern Washington University assistant basketball coach Craig Ehlo was delayed Wednesday to accommodate treatment at a facility in Massachusetts. Ehlo is facing charges of reckless burning after sheriff’s deputies found him outside his home south of Spokane earlier this month next to a pile of his burning clothes. Ehlo had been involved in an altercation with his wife earlier in the evening and was being held down by family members when police and firefighters arrived, according to court documents. Ehlo’s defense attorney, Dennis Thompson, filed paperwork shortly after his court appearance Aug. 2 in which the 14-year Spokane resident said he had substance abuse problems with prescription drugs dating back at least six years. A Spokane County Superior Court judge ruled there was good cause to allow Ehlo to travel to Massachusetts and receive “medical treatment.” Thompson declined to speak on the nature of the treatment or Ehlo’s condition Wednesday. He asked Superior Court Judge James Triplet to postpone an arraignment until Ehlo can appear in person, saying he thinks Ehlo’s treatment program will last six weeks. Triplet set an arraignment for Oct. 2 on the reckless burning charges, for which Ehlo received a no-contact order that prohibits him from seeing his wife and children. He was released from the Spokane County Jail without bail on Aug. 2. Ehlo played 14 NBA seasons with the Houston Rockets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks and Seattle SuperSonics. He moved to Spokane after retiring in 1997 and coached the Rogers High School boys basketball team from 1998 to 2001. Ehlo’s two-year stint as an assistant coach with the EWU men’s team ended July 11. As a TV analyst, Ehlo worked games for Gonzaga University and the SuperSonics.