Serial rape suspect’s arraignment delayed
Serial rape suspect Paul Earl Hawkins, of Coeur d’Alene, was granted a delay in his arraignment Tuesday after his attorney argued more time is needed to discuss a possible plea agreement.
Hawkins was set to enter a plea in the case Tuesday in which he’s charged with 24 counts of crimes, including rape, attempted rape, other sex crimes, burglary, battery and robbery.
The 33-year-old was arrested in June in connection with a series of home-invasion rapes in Post Falls, Coeur d’Alene, Rathdrum and Spirit Lake in 2003.
He is being held at the Kootenai County Jail on $10 million bond.
First District Judge John Luster reset the hearing for 3 p.m. Oct. 10.
HAMILTON, Mont.
Post Falls man jailed in U.S. 93 shootings
An Idaho man has been arrested and is being investigated for attempted murder for allegedly shooting at two vehicles traveling on U.S. 93 in western Montana. A bullet struck one woman in the knee.
Blaine C. Fadness, 38, of Post Falls, was arrested and jailed Monday and is awaiting charges.
A Missoula County man reported that someone shot at his car on U.S. 93 south of Darby about 8:45 p.m. Monday.
A short time later, a 52-year-old Idaho woman reported that she was northbound on U.S. 93 when she felt a burning sensation in her leg and realized she had been shot by someone in a southbound vehicle. The woman was treated at an area hospital.
A description of the vehicle was given to authorities and Fadness was arrested about 10:20 p.m.
TACOMA
13 sue government over center’s funding
Thirteen residents of Western Washington have sued the federal government and a Vancouver-based marriage counseling center, saying it has used federal money to promote a fundamentalist Christian agenda.
The Northwest Marriage Institute received $97,750 last year from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the Bush administration’s initiatives to support faith-based organizations, according to the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court here on Tuesday. The organization used the money to promote its Bible-based marriage counseling, in violation of the separation of church and state called for by the First Amendment, the lawsuit says.
On its Web site, the Marriage Institute quotes several Bible verses, including one that urges wives to win over their husbands with a “quiet spirit.” It also says wives should serve their husbands and make them happy as a way of honoring God.