Jailed woman faces new charges

Just as she was about to complete a four-month jail sentence, a 32-year-old Spokane woman has been charged with more than 50 fraud-related felonies.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Barbieri arrested Christine Dalihla Morlan, 1506 E. Clover Ave., Sunday on suspicion of one count of first-degree identity theft to keep her in jail until Monday. Morlan was booked on 50 additional felonies Monday, based on a four-month investigation led by Deputy Jeff Jenkins.

The additional charges include 23 counts of forgery, 15 counts of unlawful possession of payment instruments, one count of possession of fictitious identification, one count of first-degree identity theft, three counts of second-degree theft, one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, one count of unlawful possession of a personal identification device, one count of unlawful possession of instruments of financial fraud, two counts of second-degree identity theft, two counts of first-degree possession of stolen property, and two counts of second-degree possession of stolen property.

Morlan was also was cited on two counts of criminal impersonation, a gross misdemeanor.

Barbieri said more arrests were anticipated. He said Morlan and unnamed accomplices stole checks, credit cards and other financial information from mailboxes and cars. They used stolen and forged checks to pay rent and to buy pizza and drugs, Barbieri said.

John Craig

Grass fire burns four structures

A grass fire set four structures and a tree ablaze Monday morning on the South Hill.

No one was hurt, but the blaze destroyed one garage and damaged a second garage and two houses, said Spokane Fire Battalion Chief Dan Brown. “Hard and quick work by firefighters prevented a much worse outcome,” he said.

Fire crews initially responded to 1835 E. Eighth Ave. about 10:05 a.m. on a report of a grass fire, Brown said. They found the garage at that address engulfed in flames.

The blaze quickly spread to a house at 1836 E. Seventh Ave., and a house and two garages at 1837 E. Seventh Ave., Brown said. The fire was knocked down in about 20 minutes.

The estimated damage was $30,000, Brown said. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

– Jody Lawrence-Turner

15-year-old makes court appearance

A 15-year-old boy who fire investigators say attempted to set two northwest Spokane schools ablaze made his first appearance in juvenile court on Monday.

Casey R. Turbyfill was being held in Spokane County Juvenile Detention Center on suspicion of second-degree arson, two counts of second-degree attempted arson and three counts of manufacturing an incendiary device, said Spokane Fire investigator Mike Zambryski.

The charges stem from an Aug. 12 incident in which two Molotov cocktails were thrown into a construction area at North Central High School, and two occasions in which the same type of homemade bomb was thrown onto the Havermale High School grounds on Aug. 15 and 17.

In each incident, investigators found that gasoline-soaked toilet paper had been used as wick for the Molotov cocktail, according to a court document.

Property damage was minimal.

Three other juveniles may be involved in the incidents, but have not been charged yet.

– Jody Lawrence-Turner

Ritzville

Pipe bomb found in ditch

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating an apparent pipe bomb found in a roadside ditch near Ritzville.

The capped and fused section of galvanized pipe was found about a half mile off Interstate 90, near the Templin’s Country Corner truck stop about 10 miles east of Ritzville.

Undersheriff Kevin Fuhr said no home or business was threatened by the device, which was exploded by the Spokane Police bomb squad.

– John Craig