Court Report

Sheriff's Report

INCIDENT LOG

Editor’s note: Most items in this section reflect the starting point for response by local police and emergency agencies. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office does not release names of individuals who report possible criminal or suspicious activities to dispatchers or alleged victims for this column.

Monday, Jan. 30: Responding to the Hillcrest Apartments, Wilbur ambulance personnel assisted a man who may have suffered a stroke.

A Reardan woman reported receiving several scam phone calls from individuals claiming to be her grandchildren.

Reardan EMTs and Davenport ambulance personnel responded to a one-vehicle slide-off reported on U.S. 2 near the scale house, but upon arriving, found there was no injury involved.

A Reardan man reported the theft of a vehicle from the 200 block of East Spokane Avenue. The owner had started it, then left it running – within three minutes it was gone.

Deputies referred to Spokane County a report that a Reardan High School student suffered a black eye and scratches on the neck as a result of a domestic violence incident.

Acting on a referral from the Washington State Patrol, a county deputy stopped a logging truck reported to have been traveling at high speeds on SR 25 near Jantz Road about 25 miles north of Davenport.

Deputies arrested a man for unlawful possession of firearms after checking out a report of a suspicious vehicle in the vicinity of Geib and Krause roads to the north of Wilbur.

Tuesday, Jan. 31: A Wilbur woman reported the theft of a necklace from a residence in the 700 block of SE College Avenue.

Doxie’s restaurant personnel requested assistance in getting three “unwanted customers” to leave. The individuals involved were reportedly harassing other customers.

A vehicle collided with a garbage collection truck at the intersection of Third and Marshall streets in Davenport.

Deputies responded to a “juvenile problem” at Davenport High School.

Wednesday, Feb. 1: A caller advised that a vehicle almost caused a collision on Morgan Street in Davenport after making a U-turn near the Tribune Smokehouse.

Deputies responded to a report that a possibly suicidal man may be on his way to the Catholic Church in Sprague.

A Wilbur woman told dispatchers she believes someone entered her home while she was in the bathroom.

A caller observed a man shooting into a field from the side of U.S. 2 east of Reardan.

A Hawk Creek Ranch resident advised someone was shooting fireworks or guns, interfering with his sleep.

Odessa Police responded to a traffic collision at the local post office.

Reardan Police responded to a possible assault incident at the local high school, where officials decided to handle the matter themselves.

Thursday, Feb. 2: Almira EMTs and Wilbur ambulance personnel transported a woman experiencing “active” contractions from Almira to Lincoln Hospital in Davenport.

A Harrington caller reported a dog makes continuous visits to property adjacent to Mitchum Road East and killed eight chickens.

A truck and trailer slid off the roadway and completely blocked Baldridge Road near Bald Eagle Way northeast of Davenport.

Lincoln County Pharmacy personnel in Davenport reported a man who had been trespassed from the store and the adjacent Subway restaurant had returned.

Friday, Feb. 3: Deputies checked out a report of a 14-year-old Wilbur boy who became angry after arriving home from school, where he allegedly got into trouble for using his phone during class.

A caller observed two vehicles in the guardrails on either side of U.S. 2 between Davenport and Reardan.

Two deputies responded to a dispute involving family members at a residence on Oehlschlaeger Road northeast of Reardan.

Deputies helped a sports utility vehicle get unstuck from the snow-filled parking lot of Reardan’s US Bank.

Responding to the 100 block of North 2nd Street, Creston ambulance personnel assisted a 53-year-old diabetic man experiencing “extremely high” blood sugar.

Saturday, Feb. 4: Responding to the 100 block of South Maple in Reardan, two deputies intervened in a dispute between a man and woman regarding a pickup truck.

A pickup truck blocked Miles Creston Road after striking a guardrail between Deer Meadows and Seven Bays, tearing off its left front tire. Davenport ambulance personnel were paged to the scene.

A Creston woman reported receiving threatening phone calls.

Two vehicles were involved in a collision at Tenth and Main streets in Davenport. One driver was cited for illegal backing.

A deputy dealt with the driver of a car dragging a person behind it on a ski rope near Eighth and Adams streets in Davenport.

An abandoned vehicle at U.S. 2 and Fictenberg Road west of Davenport was found with smashed windows and a missing stereo.

Sunday, Feb. 5: Two vehicles collided at the intersection of Third and Washington streets in Davenport.

A vehicle slid off SR 174 and ended up in a field.

A refrigerator and three lawn chairs were illegally dumped onto U.S. 2 at Zeimer Road east of Davenport.

A vehicle slid off U.S. 2 near its intersection with Waukon Road.

A semi-truck jack-knifed on SR 174 near Grand Coulee.

JAIL BOOKINGS

Jan. 30: David J. Arnst, 20, Spokane, arrested by Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) for failing to appear for minor in possession and a state Department of Corrections felony warrant. He was rebooked on Feb. 4 for seven counts of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.

Jory L. Vallee, 27, Nespelem, Wash., arrested by LCSO for driving while license suspended and an ignition interlock violation. He was rebooked on Jan. 31 for possession of a controlled substance and on Feb. 1 for seven counts of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.

Feb. 3: Kisha M. Munson, 26, Davenport, arrested by LCSO on a warrant from Kootenai County, Idaho.

Garrett N. Gross, 18, Odessa, confined by the court for third-degree theft and minor in possession.

Feb. 4: Brittney R. Morgan, 30, Medical Lake, arrested by LCSO for taking a motor vehicle without the owner’s permission.

Feb. 5: Nolvis E. Delcidmolina, 38, Spokane Valley, arrested by LCSO on a warrant from Adams County.

From Jan. 30 to Feb. 6, three individuals were held in the Lincoln County Jail under contract with the Washington State Department of Corrections.

Court Report

SUPERIOR COURT

John F. Strohmaier, Judge

Criminal Sentencings

William Joseph Kramer, 50, of Reardan, convicted of first-degree child molestation on Jan. 9 to conclude a second jury trial, was sentenced Feb. 3 to life imprisonment without possibility of parole as a “persistent offender.” He also must pay $800 court assessments, possess no firearms, be tested for HIV, and have no contact with the victim. The case, first brought in 2005, was returned to Lincoln County by the state Court of Appeals due to a judge’s error that prevented Kramer from having a fully public trial. The most recent jury agreed with their 2006 counterparts that Kramer had sexually assaulted a girl who was eight years old at the time. Kramer also was convicted of the same charge in 1994, the first of the “two strikes” that designated him as a “persistent offender.”

Jason Russell Horstman, 44, pleaded guilty Feb. 2 to two counts of conspiracy to commit residential burglary and two counts of first-degree theft. His sentence includes 27½ months confinement (with credit for time served) and an equivalent amount of probation time, payment of $800 court assessments and an order against possession or use of alcohol, marijuana and non-prescribed drugs. Through plea negotiations, prosecutors withdrew the original 12-charge information that included a third first-degree theft charge, two counts of second-degree theft, three counts of second-degree burglary, second-degree malicious mischief, theft of a motor vehicle and residential burglary. The case involved the taking in April 2014 of a 5th wheel camper, tools, a tractor and an ATV from two properties adjacent to SR 25 and Teel Hill Road north of Davenport. The camper was recovered near Thornton, Wash., in Whitman County a month later.

Civil Judgment

In a foreclosure matter, Roosevelt Views Community Association won a Jan. 17 default judgment, requiring payment by Kent Maynard Crawford of $5,458.75 (including attorney fees), plus interest, to the petitioner. The respondent’s attorney informed the court that he could not locate his client, even with an internet search and the involvement of a private detective firm. The petitioner had sought $1,647.75 in annual assessments it claimed Crawford owed for property purchased in 2006.

New Criminal Case

Henry Alexander Palmer, 45, of Keller, is charged with possessing a vehicle that had been stolen in July 2016 from Grant County. The case was brought after a sheriff’s deputy encountered a truck with two different license plates while investigating a burglary report near the intersection of SR 21 and Krause Road on Jan. 25.

New Civil Cases

Petitioners Robert Mielke, Judy Mielke, Dorothy Mielke and Cheryl Beymer, identifying themselves as “minority shareholders” in Mielke Brothers, Inc. (MBI) and alleging they’ve been the focus of “oppressive conduct” by respondents Douglas Mielke and the “majority shareholders” of MBI, want the court to dissolve MBI and appoint a receiver. They claim that Douglas Mielke, as MBI president, “breached his fiduciary duties” and “used his position to retaliate against” Robert Mielke by persuading the “majority shareholders” to place “restrictions” on him, charge rent for his residence after more than 30 years of not doing so, and cancel his pasture lease which “eliminated his ability to earn income.” The petitioners filed to prevent Judge Strohmaier from hearing the matter and requested a Spokane County judge come to Davenport or the proceedings be moved to Spokane. Prior to becoming a judge, Strohmaier had been the respondents’ attorney and since taking office, presided in cases involving one or more of the parties in 2010 and 2013.

At petitioner Roberta Gail Cox’s request, the court on Feb. 2 dismissed her request for a domestic violence protection order against David A. Cox. She informed the court that she planned to move from Lakeview Terrace in Grand Coulee to Okanogan County.

Probate

Estate of James Carl Hagen, of Odessa, who died Dec. 25, 2016.

Estate of Edeltraud E. Savage, who died Jan. 6.

DISTRICT COURT

Dan B. Johnson, Judge

Editor’s note: These reports are based on forms filled out by the presiding judge during court sessions and subsequently reviewed by the newspaper.

Donny Lee Carson, Spokane, probation modification (third-degree malicious mischief), 348 days jail (3 credited as served), $102 court assessments.

Tammie Amber Ruff, Davenport, probation modification (fourth-degree assault/domestic violence), 1 day jail (credited as served), $102 court assessments.

John F. Strohmaier, Visiting Judge

David Jeremy Arnst, Spokane, probation modification (minor in possession), 10 days jail, $102 court assessments.

MARRIAGE DISSOLUTIONS

Lincoln County Clerk’s Office

New filings – Feb. 2: Terry L. Kissler, Jr., of Ritzville, and Jamie K. Kissler, of Moses Lake, married July 21, 2012, in Harrington, separated July 10, 2016, no dependent children of the marriage. Also, 35 involving persons living outside Lincoln County.

Petitions for legal separation: 2 involving persons living outside Lincoln County.

Property Transactions

Lincoln County Treasurer’s Office

Edwin P. Ladwig and Elizabeth G. Boulton, Elk, Wash., to Elsie E. Kelly, Creston – portion of Secs. 4, 9 and 10, T24N, R34E, subject to easement, $224,900.

Gary L. Johnson and Rose A. Johnson, Davenport, to B & E Endeavors-Six LLC, Cle Elum, Wash. – portion of Blk. 77, Morgan’s Addition to the Town (now City) of Davenport, $215,000.

William P. (Pete) Morgan and Geri B. Morgan, Oak Harbor, Wash., to Gary A. Strassburg, Oak Harbor – Lot 17, Rantz Marine Park, $350,000.

Angie Strassburg, Oak Harbor, Wash., to Gary A. Strassburg, Oak Harbor – Lot 17, Rantz Marine Park, $0.

Estate of Pamela Ann Schaff-Hubof (Robert W. Hubof, personal representative), Post Falls, Idaho, to Melanie Van Dyk, Penny F. Bauer and Sandra D. James, Rathdrum, Idaho – portion of Sec. 34, T24N, R36E, $0.

Scott F. Abel, Scott C. McGlynn, Christopher E. Abel, Rita R. Miller (formerly Roetker), Lynde L. Howe and Brice Abel, Yakima, Wash., to Dwight Rettkowski and Derosa L. Rettkowski, Wilbur – portion of Sec. 17, T28N, R33E, $255,000.

Lynn R. Barnett and Marlene E. Barnett, Tacoma, to Kodiak LLC, Tacoma – Lots 1-4, Dodd Creek Short Plat and Lot 3, Lone Pine Short Plat, $0.

Kyle D. Ogle and Ricki J. Ogle, Almira, to Matthew D. Barton and Rachael M. Barton, Almira – portion of Blk. 1, Thompson’s Addition to Town of Almira, south of U.S. 2, except portion of Lots 2 and 3 south of U.S. 2; and all of Lots 4-6, Blk. 7, Thompson’s Addition to Town of Almira, $2,000.

Wells Fargo Bank, Des Moines, Iowa, to U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Nashville, Tenn. – Parcel R4-D, Murdock Dam Land Short Plat, $88,252.50.