Region in brief: Second trial begins in fatal shooting

The second trial of a Spokane man accused of murdering another man in a dispute near his home more than two years ago began Tuesday in Spokane County Superior Court.

Allan L. Turnipseed, who was 51 when a jury deadlocked without a verdict in April, is charged with second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Joshua A. Smith on June 14, 2007. Turnipseed says he fired in self-defense.

A mistrial was declared April 17 following a nine-day trial and a day and a half of deliberations. Turnipseed shot Smith as Smith was in the driver’s seat of his Mazda, according to police reports, in their second confrontation in two days. Turnipseed said Smith was trying to run him over, a contention that authorities don’t believe.

Deputy Prosecutor Steve Garvin is prosecuting the case. Deanna Crull is representing Turnipseed. Judge Sam Cozza is presiding over the case, which is scheduled to continue through Thursday and resume Monday.

It’s expected to go to a jury Nov. 10 or Nov. 12; court is not in session Nov. 11 because of Veterans Day.

Meghann M. Cuniff

Student pulled knife on teens, police say

An 18-year-old high school student was arrested Tuesday at the Spokane Vocational Skills Center after he threatened to stab two teens over missing marijuana, Spokane Valley police said.

Nicholas J. Brinton, 18, pulled the knife when a 15-year-old girl and her boyfriend confronted him about marijuana they suspected he stole from them over the weekend, according to police. Before being taken into custody about 8 a.m. by East Valley School Resource Deputy Scott Streltzoff, Brinton also told another student he would stab the girl’s boyfriend, authorities said.

Brinton is a student at East Valley High but also attends classes at the skills center, 4141 N. Regal St.

Brinton was booked into Spokane County Jail on one count of felony harassment – threats to kill.

Meghann M. Cuniff

Man pleads not guilty in Fairchild rape case

A man accused of raping a woman in an interrogation room at Fairchild Air Force Base pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Spokane County Superior Court.

Michael W. Fassbender, 32, is charged with first-degree rape after a woman told sheriff’s deputies he choked her into unconsciousness during an Oct. 20 sexual assault.

Fassbender was arrested but released from Spokane County Jail the next day on $20,000 bail.

Deputies found blood on a desk and chair in an interrogation room at the Survival Training Center, and the woman had red marks and bruises on her arms, chest and legs, according to an affidavit.

Fassbender, who a public defender said has no criminal history, is an employee with SERE Solutions, a Spokane-based company that provides contracted instructors for places like Fairchild’s survival school.

Meghann M. Cuniff