A conspiracy theorist and candidate for Spokane County Sheriff has won his latest round to avoid a permanent protection order in a legal case brought by his ex-wife.

Judge Vance Peterson’s planned retirement at the end of the year has drawn three challengers vying to become Spokane County’s newest district court judge. All three have lived in Spokane for decades, some born and raised. All three graduated from Gonzaga University School of Law and spent years working as attorneys. Where they diverge is the experience – particularly, whether they’ve already donned the black robes.

A candidate running for district court judge may be in violation of state judicial conduct rules by advertising possibly misleading information to voters.

A Spokane Valley man was sentenced this week to serve 15 years in federal prison after he previously pleaded guilty to posing as a teenager to convince other teens to provide nude photographs that he then used as blackmail to obtain more.