NW briefs

Spokane police arrest two

suspects in woman's death

SPOKANE - Spokane police have arrested two men in Monday's shooting death of a woman outside an apartment complex near Spokane Falls Community College.

Police said detectives made the arrests while serving search warrants at 5 a.m. Tuesday and also found a gun believed to be the one used in the shooting.

Officers arrested 23-year-old Jonathan J.L Ritchey and 45-year-old Gary L. Stoddard for investigation of kidnapping and murder charges.

The Spokane County medical examiner's office said it has not yet completed its work to officially identify the woman.

Post Falls man arrested in teen's death

COEUR D'ALENE - Kootenai County authorities said they have arrested a 20-year-old Post Falls man in their investigation into the death of a Spirit Lake teenager last year.

The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday that Dylan P. Paschall was arrested Monday at his parents' house after a judge issued a $100,000 warrant for his arrest.

Paschall is being charged with second-degree murder.

Authorities recovered the partially submerged body of 18-year-old Luke Anana-Kuewa on March 25, 2012. The body was found by passersby in a small cove on the north end of the lake.

The sheriff's office said Paschall's arrest is the result of a lengthy investigation but did not provide any further details.

Most Idaho dairy farm workers

are illegal immigrants

BOISE - Various estimates say most of Idaho's 8,300 dairy farm workers are illegal immigrants.

U.S. Rep. Paul Labrador recently put the number at 90 percent.

Idaho Dairymen's Association executive director Bob Naerebout said he believes it is between 75 percent and 80 percent.

Naerebout said his estimate is based on U.S. Department of Agriculture figures and past audits by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Naerebout told the Idaho Statesman the high number of illegal immigrants on dairy farms has social and legal consequences.

Man pleads guilty to stalking charge

TWIN FALLS - A Buhl man has pleaded guilty to stalking after police say he harassed three women and a man in southern Idaho.

Bob Ekrut pleaded guilty Monday as part of a plea agreement that calls for prosecutors to drop three counts of intimidating a witness.

Police said Ekrut harassed the four people over two years by repeatedly calling them, leaving voice messages, sending text messages, sending cards, leaving notes on vehicles and driving by their homes.

The Times-News reported the 51-year-old Ekrut entered an Alford plea, meaning he doesn't admit to all the charges.

Ekrut's attorney, Robin Ambrose, said the plea deal calls for five years of probation and Ekrut has agreed to restrictions on his movement around Buhl.

Sentencing has been set for May 6.

Ex-charity worker pleads guilty to theft

NAMPA - A former charity worker has pleaded guilty to stealing from Canyon County Meals on Wheels and the Caldwell Senior Center.

Paige McMichael told 3rd District Judge Bradly Ford Monday she used the charities' credit cards to make personal purchases.

It is not clear how much the 55-year-old McMichael charged to the cards. Special prosecutor Holly Koole agreed to recommend McMichael pay $1,200 to Meals on Wheels and $6,000 to the senior center in restitution.

She paid the full amount before leaving the court.

The plea agreement also calls for McMichael to serve house arrest, probation and community service instead of jail time for the two charges of grand theft.

The Idaho Press Tribune reported she faces sentencing on June 3.

Associated Press