Homicide suspect rejects plea bargain
A homicide suspect decided at the last minute Wednesday to stand trial instead of pleading guilty to the September killing of a man whose body was later found in a rural area of Spokane County.
Instead of facing second-degree murder charges, 40-year-old James Phillip Tesch faces a first-degree murder charge at his May 1 trial in connection with the slaying of Rick L. Tiwater, 52.
Investigators believe Tesch and Ben Alan Burkey, 45, assaulted Tiwater in Burkey’s home Sept. 4 and then took Tiwater to East Laurel Road, where they drove over him with a 1987 Ford Thunderbird, according to court records.
Tiwater had just purchased a 1999 Harley-Davidson motorcycle with settlement money from the Social Security Administration, and investigators found the motorcycle in Tesch’s garage, court records show.
Deputy Prosecutor Mark Cipolla said he was prepared Wednesday to allow Tesch to plead guilty to second-degree murder but will now seek the more serious charge.
Nurse who raped boys may lose license
Washington state has suspended the license of a Spokane-area nurse who pleaded guilty in 2004 to second-degree child rape after admitting to having sex with two 12-year-old boys.
Therisa Carlson, 38, is barred by the state Department of Health and the Nursing Care Assurance Commission from working as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse. She has 20 days to respond.
The Department of Health said in a news release that it was not notified of Carlson’s conviction until after she served her sentence. Last week’s suspension prevents her from renewing her license, which has expired.
Carlson had sex with the boys in September 2000, according to court records. In July 2004, Spokane County Superior Court Judge Kathleen O’Connor gave Carlson a suspended sentence of from 78 to 102 days. Under sex-offender alternative sentencing guidelines, she was ordered to undergo outpatient treatment while in community custody. Carlson had no previous convictions.
EWU relocation plan up to Legislature
Eastern Washington University’s plans to sell its downtown Spokane center and move to the Riverpoint campus are moving through the Legislature.
The school needs legislative approval to keep the proceeds from the Ordinarily, the school would have to turn over the sale proceeds to the state and then ask for another appropriation for the move.
The House budget, released Tuesday, includes the authorization for the sale plan, as does the Senate budget. EWU lobbyist Jeff Gombosky said Wednesday that he’s hopeful the plan will be approved.
“It’s heading in the right direction,” he said.
Eastern’s five-story building in downtown Spokane houses programs in journalism, creative writing, social work and other disciplines. It’s valued at at least $4 million.
“We’ve had some interest, but as of right now we haven’t had any offers,” Gombosky said.
About 1,000 students take classes at Eastern’s downtown center. If they move to the Riverpoint campus – where 1,500 Washington State University students are enrolled – it would substantially increase the size of the campus and drive efforts to establish a full-fledged university district in Spokane.
Police seeking driver of wrecked car
State troopers Wednesday were looking for the driver of a car that went out of control about 1 a.m. and crashed on Trent Avenue just east of Pines Road.
The driver ran away, leaving an injured passenger in the wreckage, the Washington State Patrol reported.
The passenger, 49-year-old Spokane resident Kent Dale Judy, was treated and released at Deaconess Medical Center.
Investigators said the 1992 Chevrolet Cavalier was westbound when it struck a guardrail and a bridge abutment and caromed into the eastbound lanes without striking any other vehicle.
Thieves took buildings’ sidings, doors
Thieves who burgled a barn and other farm buildings last week in southern Spokane County took even what was nailed down.
Sheriff’s spokesman Cpl. Dave Reagan said siding and doors were taken from three outbuildings at 14700 S. Chapman Road, as well as an antique plow, a weed sprayer and a tractor hitch for a mower.
The owner reported the crime Wednesday and told deputies the crime occurred between Feb. 11 and 18.
Anyone with information is asked to call 242-TIPS.
Suspects arrested in purse snatching
Two men and a 17-year-old boy have been arrested in Monday’s robbery of a woman’s card-game winnings at a South Hill card room.
The woman’s purse was snatched about 2 a.m. by someone who pushed her to the ground as she walked from her car to her front door. She suspected the robber had followed her from Big Daddy’s Poker Room, 3023 E. 28th Ave.
Spokane Police said Detectives Tim Madsen and Marty Hill found a 17-year-old suspect at Big Daddy’s on Tuesday. The boy allegedly used fake identification to enter the casino.
He and two more suspects, who were located Wednesday, were booked into juvenile detention and jail on suspicion of second-degree robbery.
The adults were identified as George A. Durgin and Justin M. Leliefeld, both 18. Police didn’t name the 17-year-old.