In brief: Judge Leveque, 70, planning to retire

Spokane County Superior Court Judge Jerome Leveque announced to his colleagues this week his intention to retire when his term expires at the end of the year.

Leveque, 70, has been serving as a judge since he was appointed by former Gov. Gary Locke in 2003. Superior Court Judge Ellen Kalama Clark said Leveque intends to serve out the remaining time of his term, meaning Gov. Chris Gregoire will not have to conduct a search and appoint a replacement until the next election.

Voters will choose a new judge without an incumbent on the ballot.

Brothers arrested on bank fraud charge

Brothers from Spokane and Post Falls have been indicted on a federal charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud in a scheme that investigators say bilked $6 million from KeyBank.

Local and federal law enforcement agencies arrested this week Roger Spangenberg, 49, of Post Falls, and David Spangenberg, 52, of Spokane, who were the owners of the now-closed D&R automobile dealerships in Oregon.

In 2007 and 2008, the Spangenbergs obtained loans from KeyBank to purchase cars. They then sold the cars without paying back the loans, according to a news release.

County to pick up costs after acquittal

The same jury that acquitted a man Thursday of two counts of first-degree assault decided Friday that Spokane County should pay for any costs incurred for his private defense attorney and any lost wages.

A jury on Thursday absolved Tommy J. Villanueva, 52, of any criminal responsibility in the near-fatal stabbing of Conal Blanchard and Robert Amicarella during a drunken party on June 20, 2010, in Spokane.

After acquitting Villanueva, the jury was asked to determine whether Villanueva was acquitted because the state had simply failed to prove the case or because Villanueva used lawful force defending himself. The jury, which only needed 10 of the 12 members to decide the issue, came in 11-1 to have the county pay for Villanueva’s defense.