Damage To Flooded Jail Estimated At $250,000; Inmate May Get Bill

Nathaniel J. Brown could have bigger problems than a criminal record when his days behind bars are done.

The 19-year-old inmate may get a whopper of a plumbing bill.

Brown is accused of plugging the toilet in his Spokane County Jail cell, then flushing it repeatedly last June 14.

The resulting flood caused a chain reaction of damage on five floors - shorting out electrical equipment, ruining computers and setting off automatic sprinklers.

Engineers estimate repairs will cost about $250,000.

County commissioners on Tuesday approved setting aside the normal bidding process so they can get the work done quickly. But they want the bill sent to Brown if he is convicted of malicious mischief for the vandalism.

“This will hang with him the rest of his life and if he gets a job, we’ll garnish his wages,” said Commissioner Phil Harris. “He may win the Lotto next week.”

Brown was jailed March 18 on two counts of third-degree theft, and one count each of armed burglary and obstructing an officer, records show.

, DataTimes