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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
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Thomas Clouse

Thomas Clouse

Current Position: reporter

Thomas Clouse joined The Spokesman-Review in 1999. He is currently the business reporter. He previously worked as an investigative reporter for the City Desk and covering federal, state and local courts for many years.

Email
tomc@spokesman.com
Phone
(509) 459-5495

All Stories

News >  Spokane

Judge grants Thompson request to interview witness

A federal judge today granted a request by the attorney for former Spokane Police Officer Karl F. Thompson Jr. to interview a government expert witness who claims that federal prosecutors mischaracterized his expected testimony.
News >  Spokane

City, Zehm family will enter mediation regarding lawsuit

In the first significant step toward a possible settlement, Spokane city leaders and attorneys representing the mother and estate of Otto Zehm announced late Thursday that they will enter mediation to settle the civil suit filed over his death. “It’s time to move this long-standing case toward resolution, and mediation provides a tremendous opportunity to resolve this case outside of court,” Mayor David Condon said in a news release. “Resolving the Zehm suit is a high priority for me and our community.”
News >  Spokane

30 animals taken from Hillyard home

Spokane Police assisted SpokAnimal CARE officers Wednesday in removing more than 30 dogs and cats from a Hillyard bungalow that carried such a heavy stench that workers were forced to wear hazardous material suits and respirators to operate inside. Officers obtained a search warrant for the home of Marsha Erskine, 57, at 3622 E. Crown Ave., after a series of complaints led them to several dogs and cats outside in crates that were piled high with feces.
News >  Spokane

City wins civil suit over man’s suicide

A federal judge Wednesday ruled for the city of Spokane in a $4.7 million civil lawsuit brought by the family of a suicidal man who jumped off the Monroe Street Bridge following a botched rescue attempt by Spokane police officers. Attorneys Breean Beggs and Jeffry Finer represented the father of 28-year-old Joshua Levy, who jumped to his death after all-night negotiations.
News >  Spokane

About 30 pets removed from Hillyard home

Spokane Police assisted SpokAnimal C.A.R.E. officers in removing a total of about 30 dogs and cats today from a northeast Hillyard bungalow which carried such a heavy stench that the workers were forced to wear hazardous material suits and respirators to operate inside.
News >  Spokane

Appeal denied in grisly killing

A decision Tuesday by appellate judges most likely ended all legal recourse for a man convicted of killing his 19-year-old employee in a brutal slaying that will forever haunt a Ferry County man who witnessed it and barely escaped with his own life. The Division III Court of Appeals denied an argument by Cory J. Monaghan, 38, of Maple Valley, Wash., that he was not guilty by reason of insanity of first-degree murder for killing Jeremy Karavias and first-degree arson for setting fire to his uncle’s Malo, Wash., home in 2008.
News >  Spokane

Fired Spokane police detective sues city, seeks pay

Former Spokane police Detective Jeff Harvey filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the department that fired him last year, seeking back pay and damages for emotional, physical and mental “injuries” to be determined at trial. Harvey’s attorney, Bob Dunn – who recently won a $722,000 jury award and $833,000 in attorney’s fees in similar case involving Office Jay Mehring – pointed the finger at former police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick.
News >  Spokane

Deputies tackle wrong man outside court

A suspected child rapist suffered shoulder injuries when Spokane County corrections deputies apparently mistook him for another man who they’d been sent to detain outside a courtroom. “The whole time I was telling them that they got the wrong guy,” said Robert C. Botzon, 47, who said he may have suffered permanent damage in the Jan. 19 encounter, which included being forcibly knocked to the ground while officers swarmed and put him in handcuffs.
News >  Spokane

Federal Defenders office gets new director

Andrea K. George has just begun as the new executive director of the team of attorneys representing indigent crime suspects in Spokane and North Idaho. But the Wisconsin native is sure of one thing: The worst of Spokane’s weather doesn’t scare her at all. “If this is what the winters are like, I can handle this,” George said with a laugh. “I love it.”
News >  Spokane

Ex-deputy sentenced for HUD fraud

A former Spokane County sheriff’s deputy has been sentenced to serve a month in prison after he previously pleaded guilty to defrauding a federal program that allows law enforcement officers and other public employees to buy homes at a discount. Brett J. Peterson, 41, had faced a sentencing range of six months to a year in federal prison. But U.S. District Court Judge Fred Van Sickle instead sentenced Peterson last Thursday to one month.
News >  Spokane

Reworked plea nets 60 days for shooter who missed kids

A man who fired several gunshots into a house, narrowly missing two toddlers, after a 2009 dispute over a dog accepted a plea bargain Monday that called for 60 days in jail, which he’s already served. Lucas J. Merrill, 28, had faced seven counts of first-degree assault in a case that previously had been negotiated down to two misdemeanors by Spokane County Prosecutor Steve Tucker. However, a District Court judge in November refused to approve the deal after Tucker declined a request to appear in court and explain the reduction in the severity of the charges against Merrill.
News >  Spokane

Spokane man acquitted in stabbings

He stood crying, embraced in the arms of his girlfriend just moments after a Spokane County jury gave him most of the rest of his life back. The jury deliberated just over a day and acquitted 52-year-old Tommy J. Villanueva of two counts of first-degree assault after he plunged a knife into the necks of two men during a fight on June 20, 2010, that was instigated by erroneous rumors that he was a wife beater.
News >  Spokane

Officer seeks lower sentence

A federal prosecutor is objecting to a request by convicted former Spokane police Officer Karl F. Thompson Jr. to reduce his potential prison sentence on the grounds that he has taken responsibility for using excessive force against Otto Zehm then lying to cover it up. Thompson’s lawyer, Carl Oreskovich, had requested that a judge reduce Thompson’s potential sentence below the 27 months and 33 months currently outlined by sentencing guidelines, arguing that the decorated former officer has accepted responsibility for the crimes.
News >  Spokane

Thompson seeks sentence reduction

A federal prosecutor is objecting to a request by convicted former Spokane Police officer Karl F. Thompson Jr. to reduce his potential prison sentence because he claims to have taken responsibility for using excessive force on Otto Zehm and lying to cover it up.
News >  Spokane

Detectives look into lawsuits involving Jan. 1 shooting victim

Detectives have expanded the criminal investigation into the fatal shooting of a North Spokane mother to include two civil lawsuits naming the victim. Each lawsuit involves separate scuba diving accidents; one left a man dead and another allegedly left a woman with brain damage.
News >  Spokane

Four finish mental court program

Four community members graduated Wednesday from a program designed to help them overcome the complications that often come with serious mental illness. Spokane County District Court Judge Debra Hayes presided over the ceremony honoring their completion of the 18-month program as part of mental health court, which is a joint effort with Spokane Municipal Court to provide the structure needed to allow the participants to erase misdemeanor charges.
News >  Spokane

Former suspects released in assault case

The investigation into what was reported as the attempted murder of a father and the kidnapping of a young boy has been reopened after charges were dismissed against a couple originally implicated in the attack. Authorities have released 30-year-old Gary L. Houchins and 19-year-old Cecelia L. Rocha after accusing them of the brutal attack based on witness statements.
News >  Spokane

Justice system changes brought results

Today, Judge Maryann Moreno steps down from the role of presiding judge in Spokane County Superior Court after overseeing dramatic changes – and improved results – in how local officials administer justice. Presiding judges are elected by their peers and essentially handle the administration of the Superior Court judiciary, including budgeting and assigning other judges’ duties. Typically, it’s a two-year job, but Moreno has served as presiding judge for double the normal tenure because the last rotation came just as officials were implementing changes suggested by consultant David Bennett.