NorthwestNovember 6, 2015

Sex offender asks for and gets prison sentence

An 18-year-old Lewiston man with a reported history of child sexual abuse asked a Lewiston court Thursday to send him to prison instead of imposing a lesser sentence.

Despite evaluations that recommended Donnovan A. Johnson attend a structured rehabilitation program, Johnson told 2nd District Judge Jay P. Gaskill he did not feel he should be allowed into the community. Gaskill sentenced Johnson to prison for a minimum of three years and a maximum of 20 years.

Johnson previously pleaded guilty to lewd conduct, a felony that carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. He was charged with having sexual contact with an 8-year-old girl while living with her family in Lewiston. Although he has no prior felonies on his record as an adult, he was considered an untreated sexual offender as a juvenile after being found guilty of having sex with an 8-year-old boy, according to court records.

Johnson, who was charged in May, admitted himself into the hospital following the incident because he had suicidal thoughts and wanted to slit his wrists, according to court records.

Lewiston man dies in single-vehicle rollover near New Meadows

NEW MEADOWS - A 64-year-old Lewiston man died from injuries sustained in a single-vehicle rollover Thursday afternoon eight miles north of New Meadows.

Douglas Freeman was traveling north at 12:26 p.m. on U.S. Highway 95 when his 2008 GMC Canyon left the eastern shoulder of the roadway, according to the Idaho State Police. Freeman overcorrected, police said, causing the pickup truck to go off the western shoulder, where it rolled before coming to a rest on the side of the road.

Freeman was taken by ambulance to St. Luke's McCall Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries. The wreck is still under investigation, according to the state police.

Clarkston woman goes to hospital after wild car ride

A 67-year-old Clarkston woman went on a wild ride Thursday in Lewiston before crashing her Chevrolet Malibu into a concrete retaining wall, according to police.

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The woman, whose name was not released pending an investigation, was not injured in the incident. But according to the Lewiston Police Department, she was taken to Tri-State Memorial Hospital as a precaution.

"She didn't have any noticeable injuries but she asked to be transported," Sgt. Glen Rogers said.

According to police, the vehicle sped east around noon through a parking lot at a Lewiston Ford dealership on the 1600 block of 21st Street. Witnesses reported seeing the car airborne as it headed east across Juniper Drive before crashing through a locked gate at Mick McClure Honda on the 2300 block of Juniper Drive and slamming into a concrete wall.

The damaged vehicle was towed from the scene, police said, and officers said there was no indication drugs or alcohol were a factor in the wreck.

Rogers said investigators are trying to determine if the driver had a medical issue that may have resulted in the erratic episode.

Freeze puts the squeeze on Moscow hydrant flushing

MOSCOW - Hydrant flushing initially planned to occur this week in Moscow was postponed Thursday because of freezing temperatures.

Moscow's water department planned for the flushing to begin at 10 p.m. Thursday, extending to 6 a.m. today in the city's Frontier, Indian Hills and Vista additions, along with University Heights, Mountain View Park and the northern ends of North Almon and North Polk streets. The routine flushing will be rescheduled when temperatures warm up, according to the city.

Lewiston LDS sets free family history fair

The Lewiston Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will hold a free family history fair from 5:45 to 9 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the church, 836 Preston Ave.

A total of 12 classes will be offered each day and participants can attend up to two today and four Saturday. Topics include basic family history indexing, basics of FamilySearch Family Tree, family history on the go, getting more from Ancestry.com and organizing a family history. Participants can bring laptops or computer tablets, but the devices are not required.

Cookies and refreshments will be offered after tonight's class. A free nacho and taco bar will be available for lunch Saturday.

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