John Craig

A Spokane man and his longtime girlfriend will be arraigned Wednesday on charges of stealing money from his 80-year-old mother and tricking her into giving him her house. Michael James Halligan, 43, and his girlfriend of 12 years, 51-year-old Daphne L. Wood, each are charged in Spokane County Superior Court with two counts of first-degree theft and 12 counts of forgery.

The Washington Court of Appeals refused Thursday to budge from its earlier decision that there was no mistake in 1999 when Herbert Ross "Butch" Paschke became the first Spokane County resident to be declared a sexually violent predator. That designation by a jury, equivalent to a finding of criminal insanity, sent the then 52-year-old Paschke to the state's Special Commitment Center at McNeil Island, near Olympia, for treatment or confinement that could last the rest of his life.

The former president of a neighborhood police support group, COPS West, is under police investigation. Terrie A. Schmidt, 42, also known as Therese Anne Fontaine, is suspected of stealing the identity of one of the group's two treasurers to embezzle money from the nonprofit organization's bank account.

A judge said Tuesday that he may reduce the bail of a Suncrest man accused of soliciting an attack on his pregnant ex-girlfriend in an effort to kill their unborn child. First, though, Stevens County Superior Court Judge Al Nielson wants proof there was nothing sinister about an incident last Thursday in which one of the defendant's friends went to the alleged victim's home.

A Suncrest man accused of trying to hire an assassin to attack his pregnant ex-girlfriend and kill their unborn child wants a Stevens County judge to slash his bail today and release him pending trial. Also today, Deputy Prosecutor John Troberg wants to reduce the charges against the defendant, Charles David Young, 18.

A Spokane man who raped his helpless and dying sister got at least 30 years in prison and two words from the judge who sentenced him Friday: "disgusting" and "inexcusable." "The facts in this case are truly disgusting," Spokane County Superior Court Judge Sam Cozza told 46-year-old Dennis Patrick Bucknell. "Inexcusable. I don't know that I can find words more appropriate than that."

A day after record high temperatures were recorded in the Columbia Basin, a windy winter storm was pushing into Eastern Washington and North Idaho. A high-wind warning was in effect Thursday night throughout the region, and authorities warned motorists that wind-blown rain or snow could make driving hazardous.

Sheriff's officers said Wednesday that their investigation of last week's killing of a Mount Spokane couple so far has failed to provide a clear picture. One reason is that the suspect, the couple's 18-year-old son, has invoked his right to remain silent, Detective Sgt. Jim Goodwin said in a press conference.

Richard and Teresa Kim were remembered Monday as a couple who lived by the same faith that their pastor said was needed to understand their deaths – allegedly at the hands of their 18-year-old son. "I have more questions than answers about why something like this happens. I don't know," the Rev. Bob Smith of Mt. Spokane Church told about 450 people at the Kims' memorial service in Cowles Auditorium at Whitworth College.

There's nothing unusual about brothers who argue, unless they're on the same side. Gonzaga Prep students Mac and Jake Andrews and Joey and Justin Jurkovac not only are on the school debate team together but also are debate partners. By choice.

Two men with artificial legs are responsible for four bank robberies in two weeks, officials believe. "What are the chances of that?" Spokane police Sgt. Joe Peterson marveled after a second amputee was arrested Monday in Spokane Valley.

Three missing Moscow, Idaho, hunters were found safe shortly after 8 p.m. Friday – after more than a day in subfreezing temperatures. "They reported they are cold and tired, but they are coming home," Latah County sheriff's Detective Jennifer McFarland said.

The tipster who told police about a bank robbery before it happened Monday has been hoisted by his own petard – busted as an alleged participant with information he provided. Joshua Sigvard Palmisano, 24, was an "active participant" in Monday's robbery of the Farmers & Merchants bank in the Safeway store at 933 E. Mission Ave., police Detective Chet Gilmore said in court documents filed Wednesday to hold Palmisano on suspicion of first-degree robbery.

Two Spokane bank robberies in the past week have something in common: a suspect with an artificial leg. Charles David West, a 43-year-old amputee, is being held at the Spokane County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail in connection with the Monday night robbery of the Farmers & Merchants bank in the Safeway store at 933 E. Mission Ave. He's also being investigated for last Wednesday's holdup of a Wells Fargo branch in the Safeway store at 1616 W. Northwest Blvd.

Two men have been charged in the Nov. 9 armed robbery of a Hillyard convenience store. One of them, 32-year-old Jomo Ken "Dominic" Martin, allegedly told a woman he committed the robbery to repay a former girlfriend from whom he allegedly stole several hundred dollars.

Authorities say a part-time Washington State University security guard helped solve a $26,461 burglary spree this summer at Sirti. By confessing. James Allen Glantz, 29, thought he wasn't getting enough hours of work and was "disappointed" that his security advice wasn't heeded, so he allegedly took action to create a better market for his services.

A 22-year-old Stevens County woman has been charged with starting a 460-acre wildfire in August that burned four homes and 14 outbuildings near Valley, Wash. Heidi Marie Day, of Loon Lake, was charged earlier this week with first-degree reckless burning — a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

A 16-year-old boy who is to be arraigned Wednesday on a gun-possession charge is one of three persons who beat and stabbed a victim who wouldn't give them a cigarette last spring, prosecutors allege. The suspect, Kace A. Perry, was still on probation from the March 14 attack in Riverfront Park when a Spokane County sheriff's deputy arrested him Nov. 4.

A Spokane man who was severely beaten in October 1995 died this week after 11 years in a coma. Jeffrey Charles Feagan, 46, succumbed to his injuries Tuesday at a nursing home. He spent more time in the nursing home than his principal attacker, John Levi Swiger, spent in prison.

Nearly 300 Lake Spokane-area residents attended an informational meeting Tuesday on a proposed land swap many of them fear will reduce recreational opportunities in their area. Despite assurances from the state Department of Natural Resources that the proposal – announced in October – is in its early stages, some residents complained about failure to involve them in discussions that have been under way for two to three years with Clearwater Group, a company that specializes in arranging public-private land exchanges.

Damage from the Sept. 8 fire that destroyed the Sacajawea Middle School library, originally estimated at $300,000, has risen to $1.3 million. That's 13 times as much restitution as a former Sacajawea student was ordered to pay when he pleaded guilty Tuesday to setting the fire.

One of three teenage boys charged with burning the Sacajawea Middle School library on Sept. 8 pleaded guilty Tuesday and was sentenced to a maximum standard 75 days of detention. Harrison M. Seaborn, who turns 16 next month, also was ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution – along with his co-defendants, 16-year-old Quinten M. Glenn and 15-year-old Cody L. Baker, if they also are convicted.