Attorney General Asked To Probe Sheriff’s Actions Gun In Arrasmith Murder Case Not Tagged As Evidence By Officials

The Idaho attorney general’s office is being asked to investigate the actions of Nez Perce County Sheriff Ron Koeper and several deputies in removing a gun from the scene of two murders.

Nez Perce County Prosecutor Denise Rosen said she has written a letter to Attorney General Alan Lance, asking him to look into allegations of wrongdoing made by attorneys Roy and Craig Mosman.

The Mosmans represent Kenneth Arrasmith, who was convicted in November of shooting Ron and Luella Bingham of Clarkston, Wash., at a Lewiston auto repair business. Arrasmith contends they sexually molested his teenage daughter. He is serving a life term in prison.

The gun was found by sheriff’s Sgt. Jim Colvin inside a building at the shop where the Binghams were shot May 17. They were gunned down outside.

It was not entered into evidence and instead was returned to Cliff Whitcomb by his father, Lt. Scott Whitcomb, Koeper’s second in command.

Cliff Whitcomb worked at the shop at the time. When they learned of the gun, the Mosmans brought it to the attention of 2nd District Judge Ida Rudolph Leggett. They asked to have the charges against Arrasmith dismissed or a new trial ordered.

Leggett denied the request and said the gun was found nowhere near the bodies and did not add substance to Arrasmith’s contention of self-defense.

While she agreed it was within the crime scene, she said knowledge of the gun likely would not have affected the jury’s guilty verdicts.

The Mosmans accuse the officers involved of destruction of evidence, perjury, falsification of records and conspiracy.

Rosen said she is seeking the independent investigation to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.

She previously defended the actions of Koeper and his men, but acknowledged because the found gun belonged to a deputy’s son, “it looks bad.”