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

In brief: Evergreen Elementary School MacBooks theft leads to brothers

Three brothers conspired to steal dozens of laptop computers during an overnight burglary at Evergreen Elementary School earlier this week, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies have recovered 52 of the 58 stolen laptops. The brothers, ages 8, 14 and 15, admitted they were involved in the theft. One additional suspect had yet to be contacted by deputies Wednesday afternoon.

A janitor at the school reported two alarms overnight Monday into Tuesday, according to a Sheriff’s Office news release. Neither of the alarms turned up evidence of a burglary. But when school officials arrived Tuesday morning for work, they discovered 58 MacBook Air laptop computers missing from two classrooms. Deputies found no evidence of forced entry into the school or classrooms.

The brothers were reported missing from home around the time of the burglary Monday night, the Sheriff’s Office said. They were contacted and initially denied involvement, though the boys’ mother called the deputies and 52 laptops were discovered at the residence.

Kip Hill

Judge says ex-teacher violated no-contact order with student

A judge sent a former Shadle Park High School teacher to jail Wednesday after he subscribed to an online music playlist created by the student with whom he is accused of having an inappropriate sexual relationship.

Ryan Murphy, 44, was ordered in March to not contact a former student who alleges the former English teacher and track-and-field coach made inappropriate sexual advances toward her on school property between 2009 and 2012. According to court documents, Murphy on two occasions subscribed to online social media accounts belonging to the alleged victim.

The Spokesman-Review does not generally identify minor victims of alleged sexual crimes.

Prosecutors argued Wednesday the subscriptions violated a no-contact order in place until Murphy’s trial begins, tentatively scheduled for November. A Spokane Superior Court judge agreed, sending the former teacher to jail on $100,000 bond.

Murphy resigned from the school in August 2012. If convicted, Murphy faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison as well as a fine of up to $10,000.

Kip Hill

CdA police say luring suspects were riding in a white van

Coeur d’Alene police are looking for two men in a white van who they say attempted to lure a 10-year-old boy with candy Tuesday evening.

The boy was walking home from a friend’s house around 5 p.m. Tuesday when the van pulled up alongside and one of the men opened the sliding side door of the vehicle, beckoning the youngster with candy. The boy ran away and police were called to the 2700 block of North Fruitland Lane, according to a police news release.

Police described the suspects as dark-skinned men, possibly Hispanic, with moustaches. The van had tinted windows and the shocks squeaked as the van drove away. Two thin black lines are visible below the windows, according to police.

A search was conducted in the area, but no suspects were apprehended. Coeur d’Alene police are asking anyone with information on the suspects to contact them at (208) 769-2320.

Kip Hill