Bill Morlin

Jimmy Marks talks to the media after he and family members were acquitted. Behind Marks is his son, Michael. Photo by Sandra Bancroft-Billings/The Spokesman-Review

Gypsy leader Jimmy Marks carried out a "reign of terror" against family members who sided with the city of Spokane in a civil rights suit, a prosecutor argued Wednesday. Marks and six others, including three of his sons, should be convicted of conspiracy and witness intimidation, Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Wilson told a U.S. District Court jury.

A federal judge Monday dismissed three felony criminal charges against the wife of Spokane Gypsy leader Jimmy Marks. U.S. District Judge Frem Nielsen dismissed conspiracy, witness intimidation and obstruction of justice charges against Jane Marks.

Four North Idaho men accused of domestic terrorism in the Spokane Valley suggested Thursday they may take active roles defending themselves at a trial set for June 2. It will be the second trial for Charles H. Barbee, 45, Robert S. Berry, 43, and Verne Jay Merrell, 51, all of Sandpoint.

Barbara Marks threw a makeup container in court Friday and displayed a handful of hair clippings as she testified for a second day in a federal intimidation trial. Marks, called as a prosecution witness against eight members of her family who face criminal charges, angrily denied she used the makeup to feign bruises.

There is new talk of using mediation to end a Gypsy family's civil rights suit against the city of Spokane. U.S. District Judge Alan McDonald said he "strongly encourages" mediation to settle the case in a letter he wrote to the city and attorneys for the Marks family.

A chief prosecution witness in an obstruction of justice case against eight Spokane Gypsies admitted committing welfare fraud and lying to get a home loan. Barbara Marks denied that she now is helping the city of Spokane fight a $40 million civil rights lawsuit to avoid prosecution for those crimes. "That's a lie, that's a lie!" she screamed at defense attorney Steve Hormel Thursday in U.S. District Court. The witness then pulled out a plastic bag containing human hair and wildly tossed clumps of the black locks from the witness stand.

Eight members of a Spokane Gypsy family threatened relatives who were helping the city of Spokane defend itself in a $40 million civil rights suit, a prosecutor told a jury Wednesday. But defense attorneys said the federal government is making a big mistake by intervening in a family fight partly tied to illegal police raids in 1986.

Ratigan

What's bound to be an unusual criminal trial - including everything from allegations of a Gypsy leader urinating on his aunt's lawn to questioning of a CBS News correspondent - began Monday in Spokane. Federal prosecutors are pursuing criminal charges against eight members of a large Gypsy family.

Book tells jurors they're above the law. File

Prazeau

Three North Idaho men probably face five to seven years in prison for the conspiracy, car theft and weapons charges they were convicted of Wednesday. Sentencing for Charles Barbee, Robert Berry and Verne Jay Merrell is scheduled for June 30. But it likely will be postponed after prosecutors announce plans to take the men to trial a second time on bombing and robbery charges.

Who is the man who changed his name to Easy? Some people describe the 47-year-old activist as one of most dedicated environmentalists in the region. Many marvel at his intelligence and tenacity. Others say he's abrasive, self-righteous and sullen.

1. Easy 2. Lynn Wells and Kevin Canwell search for some sign of plantings in the Little Spokane River Natural Area. Their citizens group received a stste Department of Natural Resources grant and now members are trying to find out where the money went. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review 3. Kevin Canwell, Advisory board president

Convicted Spokane cocaine dealer Clarence "Cip" Paulsen III wants his prison term set aside, alleging mistakes were made by his lawyer and the government. Paulsen is serving 14 years in prison after pleading guilty in 1994 to conspiracy, two counts of distribution of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

The city of Airway Heights is dismissing volunteer firefighters with felony backgrounds to avoid jeopardizing a $100,000 state prison contract.

1. Cheyne Kehoe 2. Chevie Kehoe

An accused domestic terrorist fled North Idaho and lived under a false name in northeastern Washington before his arrest in Spokane, a judge was told Monday. Brian E. Ratigan also helped three other North Idaho men case a Portland bank, where they saw as much as $4 million being transferred, an FBI agent testified.

The Aryan Nations has canceled its annual neo-Nazi skinhead gathering that for eight years has marked the April birthday of Adolf Hitler. Aryan founder Richard Butler said Friday that he canceled this year's Aryan Youth Congress because of its cost and "pressure being put on our members."

Brian Ratigan

1. Sgt. Jerry Frye, Cpl. Russ Cox and patrolman Greg Woods confer Thursday after Wells Fargo bank was held up. Photo by Sandra Bancroft-Billings/The Spokesman-Review 2. This man was photographed after holding up a Wells Fargo bank Tuesday on East Sprague.

1. A LOOK AT THE BOMBING SUSPECTS: Charles H. Barbee. Barbee, 45, was transferred by his employer, AT&T;, from Florida to North Idaho in 1993. He quit the telephone giant a year later and began supporting his wife and children by buying and selling military surplus gear. The former U.S. Marine got interested in Christian Identity, a white separatist religion, while living in Florida. 2. Robert S. Berry. Berry, 42, is a self-employed mechanic who owned a Sandpoint automotive garage called Four Most 4X4. He operated a similar garage in Western Washington before moving to North Idaho. Berry and Barbee were stopped by police in May 1995 in Kelso, Wash. Officers who searched their truck found weapons, maps, survivalist equipment and marijuana. 3. Jay Merrell. Merrell, 51, worked as a nuclear specialist on submarines during 12 years in the U.S. Navy, and for the nuclear power industry after leaving the military in the 1970s. He moved to the Southwest in the early 1980s and joined the Arizona Patriots, an anti-government group. He came to North Idaho a few years later, about the same time America's Promise Ministries moved its Christian Identity church from Scottsdale, Ariz., to Sandpoint.

A federal appeals court rejected a legal appeal by the city of Spokane to reconsider a crucial ruling in a civil rights case brought by a large Gypsy family. The ruling, initially handed down in December, means that certain Spokane police officers aren't entitled to use qualified immunity defense in a $40 million civil rights lawsuit.