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

New charges for alleged Spokane cemetery thief

A man accused last year of stealing valuables from cemeteries in the Spokane area now faces new charges for allegedly taking a ring and lighter from a mausoleum. Richard D. Hall, 31, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to burglary. According to court documents, he’s accused of breaking into the Sunset Mausoleum at Fairmount Memorial Park and stealing the items from a box used to hold mementos of the deceased. Family members noticed the items were missing in December and alerted police, who tracked Hall down based on fingerprints and video surveillance footage. It’s the second time Hall has been accused of grave robbing. Police arrested him last January after video surveillance linked him to multiple thefts of rings and other items from Riverside Memorial Park and Pines Cemetery. That case is still awaiting trial. Hall has two adult felony convictions for drug possession, and one for riot with a deadly weapon.