Region in brief: Man sentenced for distributing meth

A Coeur d’Alene methamphetamine dealer was sentenced last week to almost 16 years in prison in U.S. District Court.

Paul D. Hartman, 44, was given 188 months in prison and four years probation by Judge B. Lynn Winnill on Friday, the U.S. attorney’s office announced Wednesday.

Hartman pleaded guilty in September to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, nearly two years after a traffic stop launched an investigation.

Another defendant in the case, Teri L. Stoddard, was sentenced to five years probation after pleading guilty to the same charge last summer, according to court records.

A Kootenai County sheriff’s deputy found 3 ounces of methamphetamine in a black bag that belonged to Hartman during a November 2007 traffic stop.

Investigators say Hartman picked up the drugs in Spokane or had them delivered to North Idaho.

Meghann M. Cuniff

St. George’s receives $250,000 donation

St. George’s School has been given a $250,000 donation in memory of a longtime supporter.

Shaw McCutcheon, a former Spokesman-Review cartoonist, gave the money in honor of his late wife, Nancy, school officials said. Nancy McCutcheon always felt the school contributed significantly to the community, to her children and now to her grandchildren, two of whom are attending.

“An unrestricted gift of this magnitude is a tremendous vote of confidence from a donor,” said Mo Copeland, head of the private, nonreligious school.

The first $50,000 is being used to match new or increased gifts for the Annual Fund campaign, school officials said. The remaining $200,000 will go into the school’s reserve fund.

Jody Lawrence-Turner

Judge sets bail in stabbing case

A Coeur d’Alene man accused of stabbing another man had his bail set at $25,000 Wednesday.

Alan D. Burtness, 36, appeared in Kootenai County District Court on one count of aggravated battery. He’s accused of stabbing Daniel B. McCullough in the left hand and arm Tuesday evening.

The men had been arguing when the stabbing occurred in the 3100 block of North Seventh Street. McCullough, 36, suffered minor injuries.

Burtness and McCullough were co-defendants in a kidnapping and battery trial in 1999 involving allegations made by a teen girl.

A jury acquitted them of felony charges but convicted them of misdemeanor unlawful imprisonment.

Meghann M. Cuniff

Police seek second robbery suspect

Spokane police are looking for a second suspect in the recent robbery of a north Spokane espresso stand.

Shawn Westlie, 44, was arrested after a standoff Friday and charged with multiple counts of first-degree armed robbery for a spree of robberies, including the robbery of Spokane’s Best Espresso, 5226 N. Division St.

But detectives believe a second man, recently seen on video surveillance using a credit card stolen during the robbery, may be involved. (Watch the video.)

The man pulled into a local 7-Eleven store driving a dark-colored, four-door sedan with a temporary license plate in the back window, police said.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers of the Inland Northwest by calling (800) 222-TIPS or (509) 327-5111, or leave a tip online at www.crimestoppersinland northwest.org.

Sara Leaming