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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sirens & Gavels archive for March 15, 2011

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2011

Lawyers question new court fee system

A decision by Spokane County District Court to privatize the collection of all fines and fees, using the same company that handles its bad debts, is raising conflict-of-interest questions within the legal community. Defense lawyers and advocates for the poor worry that PAR Acceptance Corp.,…

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This courtroom sketch depicts the first appearance in federal court of some of the fourteen suspected pirates captured after four Americans were killed aboard a hijacked yacht in February, Thursday, March 10, 2011. in Norfolk, Va. At the top of the drawing is judge Tommy Miller, standing at right is prosecutor Ben Hatch and sitting at right is prosecutor Brian Samuels.  (Alba Bragoli / (AP Photo/The Virginian-Pilot, Alba Bragoli))

Somali pirate suspects charged w/ piracy

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Thirteen Somalis and a man from Yemen pleaded not guilty to piracy, kidnapping and firearms charges today in the February hijacking of a yacht that left four Americans dead. They entered their pleas in federal court in Norfolk, where five other…

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Pizza delivery man robbed at knifepoint 

The smell of hot pizza helped police arrest a robbery suspect Monday. Marco Antonio Rocha, 23, is accused with Courtney R. Araiza, 21, and Augustin Tello, 17, of robbing a Domino's pizza delivery driver at knifepoint after arranging a delivery in northeast Spokane. The driver…

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Woman fakes heart attack in court

A Spokane woman faked a heart attack during her son's first court appearance on a drug charge Monday, court officials said. An ambulance rushed to the Spokane County Courthouse but did not transport the woman, who had fallen to the floor after Judge Michael Price…

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Death penalty sought in guard's slaying

EVERETT, Wash. (AP) — Snohomish County Prosecutor Mark Roe says he'll seek the death penalty if Byron Scherf is convicted of aggravated murder in the death of Monroe prison Corrections Officer Jayme Biendl. In announcing his decision Tuesday in Everett, Roe said jurors "should have…

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Man's lack of teeth contributes to arrest 

A 27-year-old man was arrested on meth charges after he raised the suspicions of feed store employees by purchasing two pounds of a substance commonly used to cut methamphetamine. Suspect Henry P. Bevans' dental health apparently didn't help: The complaint noted that Bevans was toothless…

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Public safety news from the Inland Northwest and beyond.