In brief: Bill to limit bills fails in committee

The 16th bill to be introduced this session by state Sen. Janea Holmquist, R-Moses Lake, would have limited legislators to filing just 15 bills per year.

The measure, Senate Bill 6142, died Wednesday night in committee just hours after being introduced.

It was among hundreds of legislative proposals failing to survive Wednesday’s deadline for bills to clear committee. Holmquist’s bill had been assigned to the Senate Government Operations and Elections Committee, which is chaired by state Sen. Darlene Fairley, D-Seattle, who has introduced 26 bills this session.

– David Wasson

Spokane

Police check whether man knew he had HIV

Police officers searched files at the Spokane Regional Health District this week to confirm that a Spokane man knew he was infected with HIV when he had unprotected sex with a woman he dated last year, according to court documents released Thursday.

Spokane police detectives say Larry D. Mullins, 42, intentionally exposed his girlfriend to the deadly virus. The two met at Northern Quest Casino in April 2006, and Mullins told the woman that he was not HIV positive, according to a search warrant filed this week.

During the course of their dating, Mullins also told the woman that he had recently been tested as negative for HIV at the Public Health Building, the documents said. The couple had numerous unprotected sexual contacts while they dated.

According to court documents, in June Mullins had been given a cease-and-desist order by health officials to avoid having unprotected sex to avoid spreading the virus. In that order, it was documented that Mullins had known about his HIV status since 1999.

Mullins is now facing charges of first-degree assault for allegedly infecting the woman with HIV. He has already been charged with second-degree assault for allegedly choking the woman.

– Christopher Rodkey

Men face charges of possessing bomb

A 19-year-old man was arrested Wednesday on charges that he and a friend made black powder bombs in northwest Spokane County.

Ethan M. Smith, 19, and Joseph G. Carter, 22, face charges of possessing an explosive device. Smith was arrested Wednesday. Carter was arrested last month and was arraigned Wednesday.

According to court documents, neighbors heard explosions in the woods near Ritchey and McFarlane Roads on Aug. 24, 2006. When a Spokane County sheriff’s deputy responded, he saw Smith and Carter walking out of the woods.

The two led the deputy around their improvised proving grounds.

Both young men admitted they knew making the bombs was illegal, the documents said.

– Christopher Rodkey