Stories by Thomas Clouse for the Spokesman-Review

News > Spokane

Federal lawsuit claims sheriff’s captain was fired over drug money dispute

Sat., March 23, 2019

A federal lawsuit alleging that the Kootenai County Sheriff Ben Wolfinger orchestrated the firing of a captain in retaliation for informing the county about the misuse of drug forfeiture money could soon be moving to a settlement conference, according to court filings this week.

News > Spokane

Convicted killer Joseph Duncan loses appeal to escape death sentences

UPDATED: Sat., March 23, 2019

Federal judge rejects death penalty appeals by convicted killer Joseph Duncan.

News > Spokane

Kalispel Tribe receives federal grant to help victims of crime

Thu., March 21, 2019

The Department of Justice announced Thursday the award of nearly $700,000 to the Kalispel Tribe of Indians as part of grant to help victims of human trafficking.

News > Spokane

Steady stream of Spokane gun owners shed bump stocks in state program

UPDATED: Mon., March 18, 2019

For one gun owner, the bump stock was just a hunk of plastic that didn’t work as advertised and had been taking up space in his drawer for the past three years.

News > Spokane

Kootenai County GOP aware of Green’s federal tax evasion charge prior to election

UPDATED: Fri., March 15, 2019

Kootenai County Republican leaders were aware before the November election that legislative candidate John O. Green was facing a federal tax evasion charge.

News > Spokane

Idaho lawmaker charged with federal tax evasion in Texas

UPDATED: Thu., March 14, 2019

A conservative lawyer from Post Falls, who recently won a landslide election to the Idaho House of Representatives, is facing federal charges in Texas alleging that years ago he helped a well-heeled couple avoid federal taxes by hiding the proceeds from the sale of gold coins.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Former Warden city official and substitute teacher pleads guilty to child pornography charge

UPDATED: Thu., March 14, 2019

A 54-year-old former substitute teacher, Boy Scout troop leader and Warden City Council member pleaded guilty Thursday to receiving child pornography and was immediately taken into federal custody.

News > Washington

Appellate ruling orders Stevens County judge to play nice with colleagues

UPDATED: Wed., March 13, 2019

In the latest twist of a legal turf battle, appellate judges ruled Tuesday that at a Stevens County District Court judge overstepped her legal authority when she instructed clerks to refuse to file preliminary-hearing orders made by Superior Court judges in Colville.

News > Spokane

Washington attorney general, ACLU file suit to halt Trump Administration abortion rule

UPDATED: Fri., March 8, 2019

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson has filed a federal lawsuit in Spokane attempting to halt a Trump Administration rule that would prohibit government-funded health care providers from telling pregnant women where they can obtain an abortion even if they specifically ask for that information.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Lawsuit claims state failed to intervene in Spokane Valley ‘child torture’ case

UPDATED: Tue., March 5, 2019

A multimillion-dollar lawsuit has been filed alleging state social workers failed multiple times to remove three Spokane Valley children from a home where they suffered beatings, bites and sexual abuse that one nurse said constituted “child torture.”

News > Crime/Public Safety

Sex offender pleads guilty to assault and rape of Spokane Valley gas station clerk

UPDATED: Fri., March 1, 2019

A convicted sex offender pleaded guilty Friday to a vicious rape of a Spokane Valley gas station clerk who said she was abducted and choked to near unconsciousness several times during the attack in 2018.

News > Spokane

Mother of Otto Zehm leaves legacy of police reform after her death

UPDATED: Sat., March 2, 2019

Anna A. Zehm never sought exposure. But her fierce crusade for justice following the unlawful arrest, beating and death of her son, Otto, became a yearslong public campaign for better police training in Spokane.

News > Spokane

Spokane Valley woman pleads guilty to defrauding Meals on Wheels

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 27, 2019

A Spokane Valley woman has pleaded guilty to a federal wire fraud charge after she admitted funneling $88,000 to her own accounts from her former employer, Greater Spokane County Meals on Wheels.

News > Spokane

Fire Department responds to LC science class for unsecured substance

Thu., Feb. 21, 2019

The Spokane Fire Department responded to Lewis and Clark High School on Thursday after teachers discovered a hazardous substance, which is used in science demonstrations, had not been properly secured.

News > Nation

U.S. Supreme Court ban on excessive forfeitures likely will affect Spokane police

UPDATED: Thu., Feb. 21, 2019

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that police agencies can only seize property during arrests that is proportional to the alleged crime. But the significance of the ruling on local law enforcement is not yet clear.

News > Spokane

Airway Heights court commissioner faces questions about qualification to hear cases

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 20, 2019

Terri Cooper wears a judge’s robe and makes judicial decisions in local courts in both Cheney and Airway Heights. She’s been making those legal decisions for bout 16 years. But there’s a catch.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Meals on Wheels former bookkeeper faces wire fraud charge

UPDATED: Fri., Feb. 15, 2019

A former bookkeeper for Greater Spokane County Meals on Wheels faces a federal wire fraud charge for allegedly spending funds that were supposed to be used by the non-profit charity that works to deliver meals to the elderly.

News > Washington

More than 1,700 dairy cattle die in weekend blizzard in Yakima Valley

UPDATED: Fri., Feb. 15, 2019

Dairy owner Jason Sheehan gathered his employees Saturday and they formed a plan to deal with the predicted storm expected that day in the Yakima Valley that was supposed to dump from 3 to 5 inches of snow. But the blizzard that hit left them devastated.

News > Spokane

Newman Lake dog wins best of breed at Westminster

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 13, 2019

Pancho won his class, but he almost had a chance to win it all.

News > Spokane

Washington attorney general calls out sheriffs who say they won’t enforce new gun law

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 12, 2019

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson on Tuesday called out sheriffs and police chiefs who have publicly said they won’t enforce Initiative 1639, saying they should follow the new gun law because it is the “will of the people” and because their inaction could cost taxpayers.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Multiple businesses destroyed in downtown Sandpoint fire

UPDATED: Mon., Feb. 11, 2019

Five businesses were destroyed Monday morning after a fire tore through a historic brick building in downtown Sandpoint.

News > Spokane

Federal agents locate missing Bonners Ferry children in Louisiana

UPDATED: Thu., Feb. 7, 2019

David R. McConnell warned his stepdaughter if she ever told police about how he impregnated her years ago when she was 14, he would take her other children and she would never see them again, according to court records.

News > Spokane

Washington farmers face rising costs, uncertain markets in ongoing trade war

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 6, 2019

Washington farmers can expect a tougher year covering expenses even if political leaders finalize trade agreements with the countries that import apples, beef and wheat from the Evergreen State, a Washington State University professor said.

News > Business

Ag Expo to open as Washington farmers continue to face economic uncertainty

UPDATED: Mon., Feb. 4, 2019

The wheels, all 6 feet, 6 inches of them, are polished on the shiny new John Deere R4045 sprayer, which is about two stories tall and can extend its arms to spray 120 feet of field in a single pass. But the massive new piece of equipment may be a tough sell as many farmers face an uncertain market after an economic roller coaster 2018.

News > Spokane

Ferris fight draws backlash against resource officer’s tactics

UPDATED: Sat., Feb. 2, 2019

A fight at Ferris High School, in which a resource officer put his knee to a student’s neck, is drawing scrutiny about why Spokane Public Schools hired a former deputy with a history of violent conduct.

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