In brief: Bank robber sentenced to eight years for three holdups

Sat., March 5, 2011

A former Chelan, Wash., man has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison after pleading guilty to bank robberies in Omak, Wenatchee and Moses Lake.

Cameron L. Gaunt, 28, has been in jail since he was arrested on July 20 in an east Spokane motel with a motorcycle he had purchased with money obtained in one of the robberies, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Rice said in a news release.

Gaunt pleaded guilty to three robberies in July in the three cities. Gaunt had just been released from prison in June after serving sentences for firearm and counterfeiting charges.

Thomas Clouse

Man not guilty of arson of home under dispute

A Spokane man was acquitted this week of charges that he set fire to a house during a dispute over ownership.

Stephen J. Czako, 26, had been charged with first-degree arson in connection with an October 2008 fire at 4621 N. Post St. According to court testimony, Czako had been making what he termed mortgage payments to purchase the home from Joanne Tucker.

But Tucker argued that Czako was renting the home and blamed Czako for starting a fire after she tried to evict him.

The jury deliberated part of two days before finding Czako not guilty on Thursday.

Bus-SUV collision blocks westbound Highway 2

A collision between a Spokane Transit Authority bus and a sport utility vehicle Friday afternoon trapped one person in the car with serious injuries.

The crash blocked both westbound lanes of Highway 2 just east of Airway Heights for several hours, according to the Washington State Patrol.

It was unknown Friday night what caused the collision.

The driver of the Ford Explorer, Brian R. Laughner, 34, and his female passenger, Danielle M. Laughner, 37, are newlyweds, said Trooper Troy Briggs. The bride was extricated from the vehicle and taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center. Her condition is unknown.

The STA bus was stopped when Laughner struck the back of the bus. He was uninjured.

Three passengers on the bus also were injured. Perry D. Robinson, 61, Deborah M. Hunt, 67, and Ronald Nichols, whose age is unknown, were all taken to Deaconess Medical Center.

Charges are pending and the Washington State Patrol is investigating. Detectives are asking witnesses of the crash, or the events leading up to or following the crash, to call (509) 227-6560.

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