Trial of Police Guild president resumes Monday

Former Spokane Police Guild president John Gately’s trial on charges he obstructed an investigation into an alleged rape by a fellow officer will continue Monday after prosecutors concluded their case Thursday morning.

A jury composed of nine women and five men will decide whether two phone calls Gately made to union member Sgt. Gordon Ennis in the days following a rape allegation by a fellow officers were criminal in nature.

Prosecutors called two Spokane County Sheriff’s Office deputies, who testified Gately’s actions delayed their investigation. Gately’s attorney, David Allen, has countered that Gately was acting in his capacity as Guild president and that his calls are protected free speech.

Allen expects to present the bulk of his case on Monday. He said Wednesday he plans to call Spokane police public information officer, Teresa Fuller and Barbara Corey, a former prosecutor from Pierce County who’s expected to testify about search warrant procedures and investigations. He has not decided yet whether to put Gately on the stand, he said.