Program’s finances called unsound

Spokane County’s mental health system found itself in a funding crisis last year in part because of “roller coaster” spending and a lack of sound financial management, a health care consultant told the county commissioners on Tuesday.

Last year, the Regional Support Network that administers mental health care to about 5,000 people spent $5 million more than it took in. To cover that, the system emptied its reserves and got a $2.8 million loan from a different Spokane County fund.

Dale Jarvis, hired by the county to analyze its finances, said the system’s problems started around 2001 when it did not spend enough on direct care and programs for patients. Spending increased in 2003, but “the pendulum swung too far the other way,” he said.

Meanwhile, Medicaid cut the amount it paid to the system in 2005 after studying how much the network spent on direct care, Jarvis said.

Another factor was that the network had spent much of its money on construction, which was not considered by Medicaid when deciding how much the county needed for its patients, Jarvis said.

The county’s new mental health management appears to understand the financial picture, Jarvis said.

“They’re going in the right direction,” he said. “It’s just they’ve got this hole … that they have to dig out of.”

Reward set for robbery suspect

Secret Witness is offering a cash reward for information that leads to the arrest of a 25-year-old Spokane man.

Brandon E. Jenkins is wanted for first-degree armed robbery on a warrant with a bond set at $75,000, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Cpl. Dave Reagan said.

He is described as 5-foot-11 and 160 pounds, Reagan said. Jenkins has brown hair, blue eyes and a tattoo on his right forearm.

Anyone with information regarding Jenkins’ whereabouts is asked to call Secret Witness at (509) 327-5111. Tipsters don’t have to give their name to collect the cash reward, but they should leave a code name or number.

Cocaine found in man’s underpants

Spokane Valley police found seven grams of crack cocaine in a man’s underpants Tuesday.

Howard R. Hawkey, 43, was arrested after officers discovered drug scales in his car during a traffic stop, Spokane Valley police spokesman Cpl. Dave Reagan said.

When the officer inquired about the drug scales, which were coated with cocaine, Hawkey allegedly admitted he had purchased the drug for re-sale. He also told the officer he had a chunk of crack cocaine half the size of a golf ball in his underwear, Reagan said, and a strip search at the jail confirmed it.

Duncan delay draws protests

Prosecutors are asking 1st District Judge Fred Gibler to consider the impact another delay in the trial of Joseph Edward Duncan III might have on Shasta Groene.

Shasta, 9, is expected to testify against Duncan, who has been charged with killing her 13-year-old brother, her mother and her mother’s boyfriend. Duncan allegedly kidnapped Shasta and her 9-year-old brother, Dylan, and held the children for weeks at a remote Montana campground. That’s where authorities later found Dylan’s remains. Federal charges for the kidnappings and Dylan’s death are expected to follow the state’s triple-homicide trial.

In a court filing Tuesday, Kootenai County Prosecutor Bill Douglas said the state opposes any further delay in Duncan’s trial. Duncan’s attorneys are asking the April 4 trial be reset for no sooner than November.

In opposition to the delay, Douglas cites portions of Idaho law and the state constitution that say victims are “entitled to a timely disposition of the case.” He also cites Idaho state code that says the court should do what it can to “minimize the length of time the child must endure the stress of his or her involvement in the proceedings.”

Hearing set in St. Marie’s killing

A preliminary hearing has been set for the man from St. Maries, Idaho, charged with killing a 76-year-old woman and setting fire to her home.

Lawrence “Larry” Banderob could face the death penalty in the death of Miriam Waltch. His hearing is scheduled for March 7 and 8, Benewah County Prosecutor Douglas Payne said.

Authorities believe Waltch was killed because her home was close to where Banderob’s car became stuck in a ditch the evening of Feb. 4. The 37-year-old allegedly bound and beat Waltch, stole her car, returned later to shoot her and torched her home the following day.

Sheriff Robert Kirts has said that it appears the woman was also raped. Payne said authorities are awaiting tests to determine whether rape charges will be filed against Banderob.