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

In brief: Inmate escapee shot, back in county jail

From Staff And Wire Reports

A man who escaped the Shoshone County Jail on Tuesday and was shot Thursday was back in jail Friday.

Roy J. Bieluch, 48, apparently didn’t get far after he darted out of the jail Tuesday evening. A man who lives in the area of Placer Creek south of Wallace, Brian Becker, saw Bieluch in his yard Thursday night and shot him when he advanced toward him, said Sheriff Mitch Alexander.

“He was justified in doing what he did,” Alexander said. “I support him 100 percent.”

Becker apparently fired multiple times with a 9 mm handgun. One of those bullets went through both of Bieluch’s legs, Alexander said. He was treated and released from the Shoshone Medical Center and taken to the Kootenai County Jail because that jail can better deal with his medical issues, Alexander said.

Bieluch escaped the jail via a closet, crawl space ceiling and the jail’s front door. He was arrested Oct. 10 in Shoshone County on drug charges. He posted bail, but failed to appear for court Nov. 17 and was located December in Montana in a stolen vehicle.

Man allegedly threatens man who sold him pup

A Medical Lake man was jailed after he allegedly threatened a man who sold him a puppy.

Nicholas R. Tilson, 32, faces a robbery charge for demanding a $200 refund from the puppy’s prior owner after the parties agreed to the sale Feb. 11.

According to court documents, the victim’s wife arranged the sale of the puppy but later asked her husband to refund the $200 down payment and collect blankets, a crate and other supplies that were included in the purchase.

The victim told police Tilson did not return all the puppy supplies to him, so he told Tilson he could not refund the payment until he had all the supplies.

Tilson allegedly pulled out a knife, held it to the victim’s stomach and backed him up against a vehicle. Fearing for his safety, the victim agreed to refund $100.

When interviewed by police, Tilson initially denied being home, but eventually admitted to threatening the victim over the puppy sale.

The puppy’s whereabouts were not mentioned in court documents.

Jailed woman allegedly attacked witness in case

A Spokane woman who pleaded guilty to robbery and assault in December now faces additional charges for allegedly attacking a witness.

Tiana R. Piapot, 21, is accused of assault and witness intimidation for allegedly punching Nicole Abraham in the face while both women were in the Spokane County Jail last September. Piapot appeared in court Friday on the new charges.

According to court documents, Abraham identified Piapot’s accomplice in a Feb. 22, 2014, robbery at Fred Meyer. Abraham told police that Joseph Treumer admitted he’d taken “a bunch of stuff” from the store with a female accomplice.

Piapot allegedly called Abraham a “snitch” while punching her multiple times in the face, and yelled that she had paperwork showing Abraham was a witness in her case.

Piapot is currently serving a nine-year sentence for the Fred Meyer robbery. Witnesses to the robbery told police Piapot tried to run a store employee over with a shopping cart before pulling out a knife and trying to slash a witness across the chest.

Bill would make jail booking photos public

OLYMPIA – The jail-booking photos of anyone charged with a crime by Washington authorities would become public records under a bill that passed a House committee Friday.

In an 8-1 vote, the state House Public Safety Committee advanced a bill by Rep. Dave Hayes, R-Camano Island, that would require jails to make mug shots accessible to the public, just as inmate names, booking dates and the reason for being in custody already are.

If the bill becomes law, booking photos would only become public after a person is charged with a crime and arraigned in court, and the release of the mug shot would be delayed if it would cause problems for an ongoing investigation.

Bill: Teens would need permission to tan

BOISE – Idaho lawmakers are once again taking up legislation that would require parental permission for teens to use tanning beds, after failing to pass the measure in past years.

The House Health and Welfare Committee voted to introduce the bill Friday, which would apply to children from 14 until 18 years old. Children under 14 would be restricted completely.

The plan would align rules for tanning beds with similar state laws for tattoos and piercings.

Similar bills were introduced in 2012 and 2013, but didn’t pass.

Family of police victim pursues second autopsy

PASCO – A prosecutor in Pasco said the family of the man fatally shot Feb. 10 by Pasco police has requested a second independent autopsy.

Franklin County Prosecutor Shawn Sant said Thursday that his office is ready to release the body of Antonio Zambrano-Montes and welcomes the request.

The Tri-City Herald reported that a forensic pathologist performed one autopsy last week. Details have not been disclosed.

Zambrano-Montes’ widow and two daughters have filed a $25 million claim with the city in the first step toward a lawsuit.

Bill looks to remove copyright on Idaho laws

BOISE – A group of University of Idaho law school students is backing legislation that would remove Idaho’s copyright on its state laws and make them part of the public domain.

The House Health and Welfare committee unanimously voted to introduce the bill Friday.

Rep. Luke Malek, of Coeur d’Alene, said the public should have easy access to the laws if ignorance is no excuse for breaking state statutes.

The students argue that the only way to get a copy of a law is to pay for it. The state’s free online version is not official.

Kitzhaber lawyer seeks to prevent email release

SALEM – A lawyer for former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber is trying to prevent the release of his personal emails to criminal investigators.

Records from two personal email accounts that Kitzhaber used were archived on state servers. A staffer for the former governor had asked that they be removed, but technicians refused.

The Oregonian reported that Kitzhaber’s lawyer, Janet Hoffman, has asked state authorities not to open or share those emails until she has a chance to remove those that she deems personal or protected by attorney-client privilege.