Stories by Thomas Clouse for the Spokesman-Review

News > Spokane

Spokane dentist sentenced to home confinement after improperly prescribing thousands of opioid pills

UPDATED: Mon., July 22, 2019

A longtime Spokane dentist, who faced years in federal prison, was instead sentenced Monday to 15 months of home confinement and three years probation for his part in a drug ring that delivered thousands of prescription painkillers.

News > Spokane

Judge to decide Tuesday whether Caleb Sharpe stands trial as adult for Freeman school shooting

UPDATED: Mon., July 22, 2019

The biggest legal question stemming from the Freeman High School shooting was not necessarily who pulled the trigger: It was whether the young man who was caught at the scene, admitted to committing the crime and was caught on video would be tried as a juvenile or an adult.

News > Spokane

School resource deputy recounts first chaotic moments of Freeman High shooting

UPDATED: Fri., July 19, 2019

Armored with weathered skin and a hint of sunburn, Spokane County Deputy Ron Nye looked down and went silent Friday when the prosecutor asked how the shooting at Freeman High School affected the only adult carrying a gun that day.

News > Spokane

Custodian describes chaotic shooting scene inside Freeman High School

UPDATED: Thu., July 18, 2019

Freeman High School custodian Joe Bowen launched Sept. 13, 2017, like most days. He unlocked all the doors to the school before marching up to fix two toilets in the girl’s bathroom on the second floor. Bowen had fixed one toilet and started on the second when he heard a series of pops.

News > Spokane

Defense expert: Therapist failed to convey Caleb Sharpe threats to shoot up Freeman High School

UPDATED: Wed., July 17, 2019

A forensic and clinical psychiatrist from Seattle who was hired by defense attorneys testified that Caleb Sharpe told a therapist he had “school destruction” on his mind before he allegedly killed a 15-year-old at Freeman High School and that his brain did not develop normally due to a low-oxygen or reduced-blood-flow event.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Attorneys battle over whether accused Freeman High School shooter should be tried as adult

UPDATED: Mon., July 15, 2019

Nearly two years in the waiting, attorneys finally began on Monday presenting evidence to determine whether accused Freeman High School shooter Caleb Sharpe will be tried for murder as a juvenile or an adult.

News > Spokane

Federal judge dismisses Kalispel suit challenging Spokane Tribe’s casino in Airway Heights

UPDATED: Fri., July 12, 2019

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the government’s approval of the Spokane Tribe of Indians’ recently built casino in Airway Heights. The legal challenge was brought by the longtime casino-operating Kalispel Tribe and Spokane County.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Spokane joins Spokane County in providing stats to FBI on use of force

UPDATED: Thu., July 11, 2019

The Spokane Police Department announced Wednesday that it has become one of 16 agencies throughout the state of Washington to start providing data to the FBI as part of a nationwide effort to build a database of information tracking officers’ serious use of force.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Longtime Spokane police Lt. Jon ‘JD’ Anderson dies at 50, leaving legacy of hard work

UPDATED: Tue., July 9, 2019

Just three years before he could choose to retire with full benefits, a Spokane Police lieutenant known for his ability to coordinate large events died last week. His colleagues are now planning a large event to honor Lt. Jon “JD” Anderson at the Spokane Arena.

News > Spokane

Spokane businessman evolves from troubled youth to presidential appointee

Fri., July 5, 2019

Given up at birth, Chris Patterson bounced around multiple homes in the Spokane area. But Patterson didn’t become just another physically abused kid lost in the system. He became the system.

News > Spokane

Wings of Freedom Tour brings iconic warplanes to Spokane

UPDATED: Mon., July 1, 2019

Standing on the top step of the shaking ladder, 74-year-old Mac McCauley dove Monday into the massive radial-piston engine of the B-17 Flying Fortress with a pair of Channellock pliers.

News > Spokane

U.S. Senate confirms Bill Hyslop to return as U.S. attorney for Eastern Washington

UPDATED: Fri., June 28, 2019

With a voice votecs by the U.S. Senate on Thursday, former U.S. Attorney William “Bill” Hyslop has again been confirmed to become the top federal prosecutor for the Eastern District of Washington, which includes all of the state east of the Cascades.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Fingernail DNA links Ponderay man with unsolved 1987 killing in Sandpoint

UPDATED: Fri., June 28, 2019

Investigators had no way of knowing 32 years ago that 18-year-old Tammy Bristow held the key, under her fingernails, to identifying the man who investigators believe put the rope around her neck and caused her death inside her Sandpoint home.

News > Spokane

Jury convicts Spokane babysitter of beating 10-month-old baby to death

Wed., June 26, 2019

A Spokane County jury on Wednesday convicted Joshua J. Mobley, 31, of beating a 10-month-old baby to death. Mobley was babysitting the baby in 2017 when the infant suffered more a dozen blows to the head that ultimately killed him.

News > Spokane

Jury convicts Spokane babysitter of beating 10-month-old baby to death

UPDATED: Wed., June 26, 2019

A Spokane County jury on Wednesday convicted Joshua J. Mobley, 31, of beating a 10-month-old baby to death. Mobley was babysitting the baby in 2017 when the infant suffered more than a dozen blows to the head that ultimately killed him.

News > Spokane

Jury begins on Wednesday deciding baby murder case against Spokane babysitter

UPDATED: Wed., June 26, 2019

After two weeks of trial, a jury will start on Wednesday deciding the second-degree murder case against a babysitter and Spokane father of four, who is charged with “savagely” beating a 10-month-old baby to death in 2017.

News > Spokane

Former NIC wrestling coach files tort claim seeking damages for ouster

Mon., June 24, 2019

The former wrestling coach at North Idaho College has filed a tort claim seeking damages from the school for how it handled his dismissal earlier this year from one of the most successful programs in the country.

News > Spokane

Much delayed declination hearing set for accused Freeman shooter Caleb Sharpe

UPDATED: Fri., June 21, 2019

A visibly thinner Caleb Sharpe, who also has longer hair, appeared Friday before a Superior Court judge who instructed attorneys to make preparations to finally hold the hearing to determine whether the 17-year-old charged with killing a Freeman High School classmate will be tried as a juvenile or adult.

News > Spokane

Jury convicts third suspect of murder stemming from Bret Snow disappearance

UPDATED: Thu., June 20, 2019

Counting the lunch break, a jury took less than two hours Thursday to find an accused-drug enforcer guilty of murdering and dismembering a man in Newman Lake four years ago.

News > Spokane

Feds respond to discovery of genetically engineered wheat on Washington farm

Thu., June 20, 2019

A federal agency has discovered genetically-altered wheat plants growing in Washington state that were engineered to be resistant to the active ingredient in Roundup herbicide, but the agency officials haven’t given any more details about where it was found.

News > Spokane

Murder trial begins for third suspect in Bret Snow disappearance

UPDATED: Mon., June 17, 2019

Attorneys delivered opening statements Monday in the trial of the third of four suspects charged with killing a man over an alleged botched drug deal in 2015.

News > Spokane

Air Force’s KC-46 tanker delays won’t affect Fairchild operations

Mon., June 17, 2019

A recent government report indicates that design problems with the Air Force’s new KC-46 Pegasus tanker could cost an additional $300 million and delay until next year the full delivery of the new airplane, which is designed to eventually replace the aging KC-135 Stratotankers like those based at Fairchild Air Force Base.

News > Spokane

Appellate judges uphold $7.5 million jury award against Spokane County

Sun., June 16, 2019

Appellate judges have upheld a $7.5 million award against Spokane County that a jury awarded a woman who was left paralyzed from the chest down in a motorcycle collision that occurred in 2011.

News > Spokane

Four new K-9 teams get certified in ceremony at Spokane Police Academy

UPDATED: Thu., June 13, 2019

The first time Spokane police Officer David Stone introduced his new partner, a German shepherd named Haywire, to his training officer, Haywire ended up hanging off the instructor’s arm by his teeth.

News > Spokane

Spokane man gets 20 years for stabbing death of girlfriend

UPDATED: Thu., June 13, 2019

A Spokane man received more than 20 years in prison Thursday after he previously pleaded guilty to stabbing to death a woman who was trying to help him clean up his life.

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