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

Meghann M. Cuniff

This individual is no longer an employee with The Spokesman-Review.

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News >  Spokane

Gonzaga program helps police crack smaller-scale fraud, embezzlement cases

Spokane County law enforcement agencies believe they may be seeing the criminal result of the bad economy: Reports of theft and fraud by employees in all types of work are increasing. From fast-food restaurants to mom-and-pop businesses to large corporations, police say they’ve seen more reports of theft in the workplace in the past two years than ever before.
News >  Spokane

Foster care licensing agent arrested

A state social services employee who licenses foster care homes was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of child pornography possession. Darrell J. Rogers, 51, is in the Spokane County Jail without bail after appearing in U.S. District Court on Tuesday afternoon. FBI agents arrested him at his home in the 7100 block of North Westgate Place in the Indian Trail area in north Spokane, where he lives with his wife, Kim Rogers, 49.
News >  Spokane

Police seize stolen items linked to triple homicide

Spokane police on Tuesday seized a bulletproof vest and video game console from the home of a Spokane man who was one of the last people to see triple homicide suspect Dustin W. Gilman alive. No one was arrested, but Detective Jeff Barrington said the investigation into the items, which were stolen from the home of homicide victim Tracy Ader, 32, and her sons, as well as the location of other stolen property, is ongoing.

News >  Idaho

World jet boat championship races draw fans to St. Maries

ST. MARIES – Mark Cromie’s jet boat roared to a stop on the St. Joe River here Sunday ahead of the competition. The boat, powered by a helicopter engine, handled the tight corners of the scenic Benewah County waterway just fine, the 58-year-old, longtime boat racer said, crediting his experience with rivers back home in New Zealand.
News >  Spokane

Fatal end to police chase captured on home video

A homeowner says his surveillance video brings into question the official account of why law enforcement shot and killed a North Idaho fugitive three weeks ago, though police warn against drawing too many conclusions from the footage because it captures just a portion of the chaotic 20-minute chase and final encounter. Video from a home in the Hayden cul-de-sac where Justin Earl Nicholas Todd, 33, was cornered by police shows a Post Falls officer apparently firing at Todd as the fleeing felon tried to drive past the officer. The officer nearly slipped on the icy road before steadying himself and firing several more shots.
News >  Spokane

Property crimes to get new focus

City leaders on Friday announced a new plan to investigate property crimes in Spokane that involves more investigators, a greater focus on crime trends and larger investments in technology. The changes are part of an effort to reinvigorate property crimes investigations in the city after budget cuts eliminated eight property crimes detectives last summer and the department told the public only 5 percent of crimes would be investigated.
News >  Spokane

Juvenile detention officer hit her, wife says

A Spokane County juvenile detention corrections officer was jailed recently on suspicion of assaulting his wife. Darryl A. Robinson, 52, said Wednesday that he has a meeting scheduled with his supervisors to discuss his arrest. Robinson was released from the Spokane County Jail on $1,500 bond after being arrested on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge Friday about 7:30 p.m.
News >  Spokane

GOP rift surprises ex-Arizona sheriff

A former Arizona sheriff whose speaking appearance today in North Idaho has created a rift among local Republicans called on Spokane County politicians Friday to make protecting the Constitution their No. 1 priority. Richard Mack disputed claims that he’s a darling of the militia movement in his speech at the Spokane County Republican Party’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner.
News >  Spokane

Former Arizona sheriff to speak

A former Arizona sheriff revered by the militia movement for his outspoken criticism of gun control and government tyranny is returning to the Inland Northwest for meetings with local GOP groups, triggering a rift among some Republicans. Richard Mack, who now lives in Texas and is running for U.S. Congress, is a self-described conservative constitutionalist with ties to various political parties and movements. He served as sheriff of rural Graham County, Ariz., as a Democrat, ran unsuccessfully for governor of Utah as a Libertarian and now is trying to unseat a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives in the GOP’s upcoming Texas primary.
News >  Spokane

Divisive former sheriff will meet with Spokane GOP

A former Arizona sheriff revered by the militia movement for his outspoken criticism of gun control and government tyranny is returning to the Inland Northwest for meetings with local GOP groups, triggering a rift among some Republicans. Richard Mack, who now lives in Texas and is running for U.S. Congress, is a self-described conservative constitutionalist with ties to various political parties and movements.
News >  Spokane

Teen charged with murder

An 18-year-old man accused of killing a Veterans Affairs Medical Center employee who was trying to break up an underage drinking party has been charged with murder. Treven Lewis, who is in jail, is expected to appear before a Spokane County Superior Court judge on the new charge of second-degree murder as early as today, where he’ll be assigned a future court date and will have an opportunity to ask for a reduced bail.
News >  Spokane

Murder charges in beating death could take time

Spokane County prosecutors aren't expected to immediately upgrade the charges against an 18-year-old man charged in the beating death of a 65-year-old retired principal who was trying to break up an underage drinking party. Treven Lewis, 18, currently faces the charge of first-degree assault.
News >  Spokane

Assault victim fondly remembered as VA patient advocate

The Spokane veterans hospital community is grieving for a beloved employee who died after being assaulted while trying to break up an underage drinking party. Frank James Motta, a retired high school principal, teacher and football coach, began volunteering at the Spokane Veterans Affairs Medical Center in 2009 and was hired as a patient advocate four months ago. His wife, Virginia, and daughter, Jami, also volunteer there.
News >  Spokane

Man critically hurt breaking up party

The man severely beaten at an underage drinking party last weekend was a 65-year-old neighbor who was trying to break up the large gathering as sheriff’s deputies stood outside. Doctors do not expect Frank James Motta will survive the attack.
News >  Spokane

Man badly beaten while trying to break up party

A man severely beaten at an underage drinking party last weekend was a 65-year-old neighbor who was trying to break up the gathering as sheriff’s deputies stood outside. Doctors do not expect Frank James Motta to survive the attack.
News >  Spokane

Idaho man shot, killed after hitting trooper with car

A North Idaho man with an extensive criminal history was shot and killed by a Post Falls police officer early Monday after striking a state trooper with his car, police said. Justin Earl Nicholas Todd, 33, died at Kootenai Medical Center after a nearly 20-minute police chase ended with shots fired in a residential area near West St. Estephe Court and West Bordeaux Avenue, just west of North Ramsey Road and south of West Honeysuckle Avenue in Hayden.
News >  Idaho

Man killed by Post Falls police identified

A North Idaho man with an extensive criminal history was shot and killed by a Post Falls police officer early today after striking a state trooper with his car, police say.
News >  Spokane

Idaho man pleads guilty to murdering neighbor with hammer

A North Idaho man who bludgeoned four people with a hammer in a brutal murder in Bayview last year has pleaded guilty. Larry Ward Cragun, 32, faces a mandatory life sentence with possible eligibility for parole after 10 years when he’s sentenced in May, Kootenai County Prosecutor Barry McHugh said Friday.
News >  Spokane

Extremist groups burgeon

The number of militias and other extremist movements in the Inland Northwest and across the country continues to rise, according to a new report from the Southern Poverty Law Center. The report, released Thursday by the Alabama-based nonprofit that tracks hate groups and extremists, said the number of militia and anti-government groups in the United States soared to 1,274 last year, from 149 in 2008. That includes 50 in Washington and 23 in Idaho.