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

Convicted felon back in Spokane court for firearms charges

Jacob Peckham, 26, sentenced to 5 years in federal prison already

From staff reports
A prolific Spokane felon with an alleged penchant for tossing firearms before arrest is back in a Spokane courtroom today, just a few days after a federal judge sentenced him to 5 years in prison. Jacob Peckham, 26, was booked into Spokane County Jail on Thursday afternoon for three outstanding warrants, including alleged charges of felony hit-and-run, drug possession and unlawful possession of a firearm. He arrived there from custody of the U.S. marshals, who were holding him after he pleaded guilty to a federal firearms charge Monday. The federal case stemmed from an incident in the Garland neighborhood last June. Investigators said Peckham, who has felony convictions for drug, theft and eluding police crimes, fled from them on a bicycle while armed with a .357 revolver. Peckham tossed the gun prior to his arrest. When authorities confronted him with the weapon, he told them he needed it “for protection.” “There are people trying to get me,” Peckham told Spokane police officers, according to court documents. In October, similar circumstances led to Peckham being arrested again, according to allegations that were to be brought against him today. A witness told police Peckham took her Mercedes without permission Oct. 1. He led police on a chase from an auto shop on Division Street, eventually crashing into another motorist near Longfellow Elementary School. During the chase, investigators said, Peckham threw a chrome revolver from the vehicle that was discovered lying in the roadway. Peckham fled the scene on foot. The federal criminal complaint was filed against him the next day. He was arrested on Oct. 10, according to court documents. Peckham will appear in Spokane Superior Court on the state charges this afternoon.