Regional news

Eastern State patient accuses nurse of rape

The Washington State Patrol arrested a 42-year-old nurse Monday on suspicion that he raped a patient at Eastern State Hospital.

Guy M. Johnston is accused of raping a 29-year-old woman under his care on June 10, WSP Trooper Brad Hudson said Wednesday.

The woman was admitted to the Medical Lake mental health facility June 5 on a 72-hour commitment, Hudson said. Because of concerns of hospital staff, the woman was placed on “one-on-one” status and was to have a staff member with her at all times.

Johnston, a licensed practical nurse for the hospital, was watching the woman when the alleged rape took place, Hudson said.

The victim told hospital staff about the assault just after noon Monday, and the staff notified authorities.

The woman was transported to Deaconess Medical Center, where a rape examination was conducted. Detectives also went to the hospital and interviewed staff, took photos and collected evidence, Hudson said. Hudson said detectives planned to forward the case to prosecutors today for review.

According to a Department of Social and Health Services provider credential check, Johnston has been a licensed practical nurse in Washington since 1990. A call to hospital administrators went unanswered Wednesday.

Coeur d’Alene A Chilco man doesn’t think Kootenai County should shut down his business just because his used trailer home sales yard may be an eyesore along U.S. Highway 95.

“It’s not a popularity contest,” Larry Spencer told the Kootenai County Commission on this week.

His attorney, Ian Smith, said Spencer is running a legitimate business.

He sells the homes to people in Bonner and Boundary counties, because many of the trailers are too old to comply with Kootenai County and Washington state standards.

“Activity on commercial property isn’t always pretty,” Smith said, adding that the property has had many commercial uses, ranging from a log home business to a tavern.

Spencer is asking for a special-notice permit needed to legally operate the sale yard in a commercial zone along the highway.

The county has fought with Spencer for the past year, asking him to bring the illegal sale yard into compliance or remove the mobile homes, many of which have broken-out windows and no doors.

The county filed a lawsuit against Spencer last year.

Now Spencer is asking for the permit.

Spencer’s Chilco neighbors told the commission the homes are uninhabitable eyesores that blight the landscape near Chilco Falls, a county park.

One neighbor said he sees flashlights in some of the trailers at night and fears transients are sleeping in the hollow homes and could set fires or cause other damage to nearby property.

John Janke, who owns Rimrock Golf Course just north of the sale yard, said Spencer’s business doesn’t fit in with the area.

“Almost everyone who comes in there asks, ‘What is that mess down the street?’ ” Janke said.

The commission will make a decision on the permit next Wednesday.

For more information, call 446-1070.