County Worker Turns Himself In Man Arrested In Suspected Forgery Was Cleared In Earlier Probe

A Spokane County public works employee suspected of forging a woman’s signature on a deed has been arrested, authorities said.

Allen Skimming, 47, surrendered to sheriff’s deputies Monday at the Public Safety Building after a judge issued a felony warrant charging him with one count of offering a false instrument for filing, said Cpl. Dave Reagan, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office spokesman.

Skimming was released on his own recognizance, Reagan said.

Reached at his home Tuesday afternoon, the six-year county right-of-way agent said he hopes to be exonerated.

“I know what transpired, and I know I did nothing wrong,” Skimming said. “When you’re not guilty, you should be OK.”

He also criticized county officials for pursuing the case against him after an investigation by County Engineer Bill Johns found Skimming had done nothing wrong.

“I’m disappointed in the county,” Skimming said. “They did one investigation already that cleared me, but they decided to push it to a higher level. I just don’t understand.”

He declined further comment.

Skimming, whose job entails buying property needed for county road projects, has been on paid administrative leave from his $2,800-per-month position since last month while the case was investigated.

County right-of-way agent John Royse, who backed Skimming’s story, was reassigned.

County commissioners are scheduled to meet in an executive session Thursday to decide Skimming’s future with the county, said Francine Boxer, county administrator.

The case stems from the 1999 purchase of a small piece of land on Century Road in the Valley. Skimming was assigned to acquire the land for a sidewalk extension project.

He negotiated a deal with the landowner’s daughter, who has power of attorney to conduct her mother’s business.

The deal was consummated in May 1999 and appeared to be settled.

That’s until the daughter received a copy of the statutory deed for the transaction in the mail. She claimed that her signature had been forged on the document and hired an attorney.

Johns conducted his investigation and cleared Skimming, and Boxer launched her own probe into the matter. Her investigation is pending.

The case also was handed over to the Sheriff’s Office for investigation of possible criminal charges.

Reagan said Tuesday that two handwriting experts determined the signature was an obvious forgery that was probably traced.

“Plus, we’ve got the woman telling us that’s not her signature,” he said.

If convicted, Skimming faces up to five years in state prison and a $5,000 fine.

Neither authorities nor county officials have discussed a possible motive.