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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spokane auto dealer who partnered with deputy denies fraud claims

The Spokane auto dealer who recruited a former sheriff’s deputy to complete vehicle inspections distanced himself from the deputy on Thursday and rebutted claims he tampered with odometers.

“I’m a businessman,” Doug Bartlett said. “This could have a detrimental effect.”

Bartlett called in response to Thursday’s story, denying allegations contained in an internal Spokane County Sheriff’s Office report that vehicles sold at auction by his company, Bartlett Motors, showed signs of odometer tampering.

“There was one truck that we had to sell with ‘miles unknown,’” Bartlett said, attributing the error to the conversion from kilometers to miles. He also said his company was not responsible for those odometer readings.

A report produced by an internal investigation into former Deputy Jeremy Jeske’s involvement with Bartlett said a National Crime Insurance Bureau agent ran Carfax reports on 28 of the vehicles the pair were tied to. Half of those vehicles had odometer readings that were “questionable,” according to the agent.

Bartlett acknowledged titling cars in Arizona, and that Jeske completed “virtual VIN inspections” for his company. He said he was surprised that Jeske would not provide truthful statements to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and the Arizona Office of the Inspector General.

Sgt. Tim Hines, who handled the internal investigation into Jeske’s actions, wrote that Jeske emailed Bartlett within 30 minutes of receiving notice he was under investigation. Bartlett then contacted the Arizona Department of Motor Vehicles and questioned why, in his words, “my officer” was being investigated by the Sheriff’s Office.

Jeske denied receiving any compensation for the work he did for Bartlett, saying he was trying to get his foot in the door as a car purchaser. He resigned two weeks after being questioned by Hines but remains an accredited law enforcement officer in Washington.

Bartlett Motors maintains an active business license and dealership license through the Washington Business Licensing Service. No criminal charges have been filed against Bartlett or his business.