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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Jury finishes first day of deliberations in auditor trial

Associated Press

TACOMA – A jury in Tacoma has finished its first day of deliberations in the fraud trial of Washington state Auditor Troy Kelley.

Jurors had two questions for the judge but didn’t reach a verdict Thursday in a case described by prosecutors as a “plain case of fraud and a cover-up” and by the defense team as a “disaster.”

Kelley, the first Washington state official indicted in 35 years, is accused of illegally pocketing $3 million in fees prosecutors say he should have refunded to homeowners when he ran a real-estate services business called Post Closing Department.

He operated the company during the height of the housing boom before he was elected state auditor.

Defense attorneys say Kelley was entitled to keep the money.

The jury is expected to resume deliberations on Friday.