Investigation Costs Quickly Add Up

Spokane County officials are just beginning to determine how much taxpayers will owe for the prosecution of alleged killer Robert Lee Yates Jr.

The investigation has already cost millions of dollars. A trial could add millions more, and if prosecutors seek the death penalty and win, appeals will further inflate spending.

By the end of this year, city police and the county sheriff’s office expect they will have spent about $2.2 million on the serial killer investigation, which started in late 1997.

County Prosecutor Steve Tucker has estimated the bill for the trial could tack on $2 million more.

Sheriff Mark Sterk plans to request more money for task force operations Tuesday from Spokane County commissioners, though he hasn’t specified an amount.

Sheriff’s spokesman Dave Reagan said with Yates in custody, detectives are running into unexpected costs.

For example, “It’s apparent to us now that we’re going to have to rent storage space” for vehicles that have been seized as evidence, Reagan said.

Nine cars that Yates owned or sold have been impounded. Detectives were looking for others.

Authorities suspect Yates of killing at least 12 prostitutes in Spokane and Tacoma. He has been charged in the death of Jennifer Joseph, 16. Other charges are pending, police say.

Investigators arrested Yates last week and have been searching his property since. He is being held in the Spokane County Jail.

Commissioners have already approved several budget increases for the Sheriff’s Office this year, including $120,000 for the task force last month. They balked, however, at another $100,000 request to add two more detectives to the task force.

They also have clashed with Sterk over other budget requests this year.

County Commissioner Kate McCaslin said Friday she did not want to speculate on whether the task force’s financial wish would be granted until she sees a proposal.

Investigating Yates and his past represents only part of the costs facing the county.

Yates’ public defender, Richard Fasy, has indicated pretrial publicity may damage chances of a fair trial in Spokane. He says he will request a change of venue.

David Hardy, Spokane Superior Court administrator, said court costs can explode for complicated murder trials taken to another county.

A judge and staffers would be lodged at taxpayer expense. Witness costs - regardless of where the trial is held - are picked up, too. Jurors need to be paid daily and with a case involving the details of DNA, expert witnesses will likely be on hand.