Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office

05/29/2026

Spokane man sentenced to 15 years in prison for four-day crime spree with multiple victims

On May 27, 2026, in Spokane County Superior Court, Ian H. Richart (29) pleaded guilty to seven crimes, including two counts of 1st Degree Robbery, one count of 2nd Degree Unlawful Possession of a Firearm (UPF), one count of 1st Degree Burglary, one count of 3rd Degree Assault, one count of Attempt to Elude Police Vehicle, and one count of 1st Degree Malicious Mischief. Judge Candie Dibble sentenced Richart to a total of 171 months in prison for all seven offenses. Last week, on May 21, 2026, Richart pleaded guilty to 1st Degree Assault with a firearm enhancement and one count of 2nd degree UPF. Judge Michelle Szambelan sentenced Richart to 180 months in prison for those offenses. The two sentences will be served concurrently.

Richart’s crime spree began on June 22, 2025, when, according to court documents, Richart stole a car located at W. 2nd Ave, threatening the victim, whom he knew, with a gun. The victim called 911. Police identified the suspect as Richart and located the vehicle; however, Richart fled from police. The vehicle was recovered in the Spokane Valley, but Richart was not located at that time.

Court documents show that later, on June 27, 2025, Richart shot and wounded a man to whom he was attempting to sell drugs near Walton Ave and Crestline St. The victim was shot twice and survived. Weeks later, on July 16, 2025, police located Richart in his vehicle on North River Drive and attempted to arrest him. However, when police activated their emergency lights and siren, Richart accelerated toward a police vehicle, hitting an open door and narrowly missing an officer who was about to exit the vehicle. Richart then fled the scene.

On July 19, 2025, police again attempted to arrest Richart, after tracking him to a location on N. Wilbur Rd. in the Spokane Valley. Police surrounded the apartment building, and Richart accessed the attic of an apartment to escape. The occupant of an adjacent apartment awoke to Richart entering his apartment through the attic. Richart had a gun and told the man to give him some clothing, which he did. Police made entry into the apartment and were able to safely arrest Richart.

At the sentencing hearings, the State outlined Richart’s offenses and argued for a sentence that encompassed all 9 charges, with the most serious, the 1st Degree Assault with a firearm enhancement, carrying the longest sentence (180-220 months). Richart has 2 prior felony convictions and a host of misdemeanor convictions. Richart was also ordered to serve 36 months community custody following his 15-year sentence.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Dale Nagy handled the case for the State. We thank him, our Victim Witness Advocates, and the City of Spokane Police Department for their strong work.

05/27/2026

Man who exposed himself to students at a college dorm sentenced to a year in prison

On May 26, 2026, in Spokane County Superior Court, Robert M. Packard (55) was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in prison after pleading guilty to one count of Indecent Exposure with Sexual Motivation in March.

The incident occurred in February 2026 outside a Gonzaga University college dormitory. Court documents detail that two roommates noticed a man outside their dorm window with his pants down exposing himself and ma********ng. They notified police who arrived quickly, caught Packard in the act and arrested him. Packard had been previously trespassed from Gonzaga’s campus.

During the sentencing hearing today, the State outlined Packard’s criminal record which includes a prior conviction for Indecent Exposure with Sexual Motivation and for Sexual Battery of a Minor, as well as multiple trespassing convictions. The State asked for an exceptional sentence of 12 months plus one day, a recommendation to which the defendant agreed so that he might obtain help through prison programs. In Washington, sentences of a year or less are served in jail, while those of a year or more are served in prison. Judge Michelle Szambelan imposed the exceptional sentence and ordered Packard to be supervised during 36 months of community custody. Packard is required to register as a s*x offender and may not have unsupervised contacts with minors.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Anastasiya Krotoff handled the case for the State. We thank her, our Victim Witness Advocates, the City of Spokane Police Department and Gonzaga University for their assistance in the case.

05/27/2026

Man sentenced to more than 5 years in prison for a setting multiple fires around Spokane

On May 26, 2026, in Spokane County Superior Court, Chad A. Horne (38) was sentenced to 63 months in prison after pleading guilty to 3 counts of 2nd Degree Arson.

The case stems from a series of fires set in Kendall Yards, Downtown Spokane, and East Central Spokane in the early morning hours of July 8, 2025. Court documents detail and surveillance video show Horne throwing items and knocking over planters at a location on W. Summit Parkway. He was then observed at another location on W. Summit Parkway and a short time later, 911 received reports of a fire there. Thereafter, this pattern of Horne being observed at a particular location, followed by reports of a fire at that location, continued for several hours, with fires reported at S. Sherman St., Spokane Falls Blvd., S. Chandler St., and S. Grant St. Several properties were damaged by fire even as the City of Spokane Fire Department worked quickly to extinguish the flames. Fortunately, no one was injured. Spokane Police identified Horne and arrested him a few days later. He admitted to setting a number of the fires.

During the sentencing hearing today, the State outlined Horne’s criminal history which includes two Reckless Burning convictions, as well as Assault and Vandalism convictions. Considering Horne’s criminal history and the severity of his current crimes, his statutory sentencing range was 63-84 months in prison. The State and defense jointly recommended the court impose the low end of the standard range because Horne accepted responsibility. Judge Rachelle Anderson sentenced Horne to 63 months, 18 months of community custody and ordered Horne to undergo both substance abuse and mental health evaluations. She stated she hoped Horne would follow through on his intention to learn a trade while in prison and to stay on his medications.

The case was handled by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Edwards. We thank him, our Victim Witness Advocates, and the City of Spokane Police Department and the Spokane Fire Department for their diligent work on this case.

05/21/2026

Convicted ra**st, kidnapper, and murderer from Spokane denied parole and given additional 15 years in prison

On May 19, 2026, The Washington State Indeterminate Sentence Review Board (ISRB) announced that it is denying Arbie D. Williams (83) parole and added 180 months to his sentence.

The board stated that the decision not to parole Williams was based on the totality of all evidence presented during the latest parole review which lead to these findings: Williams refused to attend any hearings leaving the board unable to accurately access his rehabilitation; while Williams completed some prison treatment programs, his provider noted he made minimal progress and demonstrated he had little insight into his risks and interventions; Williams has a history of alcohol abuse with many of his crimes committed under the influence and Williams has not completed substance use disorder treatment; evaluations of Williams’ likelihood to reoffend put him at a high risk of reoffending despite his advanced age; Williams’ lack of insight into why he committed his crimes and limited insight into interventions demonstrates a lack of rehabilitation; Williams lack of insight into the harm he caused limits his perspective on managing risk if released. The board concluded, “Williams is not fully rehabilitated nor is he a fit subject for release.”

Spokane County Prosecutor Preston McCollam applauds the board’s decision to keep Williams behind bars and to extend his sentence stating “This is a relief for the survivors and for our community. I am thankful the board took into consideration all aspects of this case and the risk of Williams reoffending despite his age. They truly listened to the victims and survivors of his atrocities. I am encouraged by the support from the community for Williams’ crime victims and am especially thankful to all who submitted comments to the ISRB.”

For more information on William’s crimes that have forever left a mark on the Spokane community, see a previous media release posted on May 1st and this podcast which includes testimony from surviving victims and statements from Prosecutor Preston McCollam.

*Warning* The content in this episode may be disturbing to some vie...

05/19/2026

Spokane man who shot and killed another man during a road rage incident sentenced to more than 28 years in prison

On May 19, 2026, in Spokane County Superior Court, Caleb N. Carder (30) was sentenced to 344 months in prison after pleading guilty to 1st Degree Premeditated Murder last month. The court also imposed a deadly weapon enhancement as Carder used a gun in the commission of the crime.

The case stems from an incident on May 23, 2024, on Garland Ave. in North Spokane. Court documents detail that Carder was driving to work around 5:30 a.m., as was the victim, Joshua Paine. Witnesses and surveillance video captured Carder pull his vehicle around Paine’s car and stop abruptly. Both men exited their cars and almost immediately Carder fired a gun at Paine who turned and ran as Carder shot him in the back. Carder shot Paine nine times before Paine collapsed. Carder then returned to his vehicle, threw the gun inside, and attempted to administer CPR to Paine. 911 dispatchers began receiving calls about a shooting from people who were nearby. Officers arrived quickly and took over lifesaving measures, but tragically Paine died at the scene. Carder admitted he was the shooter and was taken into custody.

At the sentencing hearing today, Paine’s family and friends gave emotional impact statements. Some described the murder as a senseless and horrifying act carried out by one man against a stranger, while others highlighted how their sense of safety has been undermined, given that the murder occurred publicly in broad daylight. Paine’s widow spoke of the horror of learning about the shooting from media outlets just minutes after it happened, knowing her husband had just left home, and then pinging his phone to find it at the location of the shooting.

Carder addressed the court and apologized to the family, expressing his regret and begging their forgiveness. Carder has no prior felony criminal history. The statutory sentencing range for 1st Degree Premeditated Murder in this case is 240-320 months. Judge Marla Polin sentenced Carder to the high end of the sentencing range plus the deadly weapon enhancement of 24 months for a total of 344 months. The judge said this was one of the most egregious, horrific and senseless acts she’s seen. The judge also sentenced Carder to 36 months of community custody and ordered him to pay restitution to Paine’s family and not to have contact with them for life.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Dara Schroeter and Patrick Schaff handled the case for the State. We thank them, our Victim Witness Advocates who worked closely with the victims throughout the court proceedings, and the City of Spokane Police Department, particularly lead Detective Chan Erdman, for their dedicated work.

05/19/2026

Repeat shoplifter sentenced to more than 2 and ½ years in prison

On May 15, 2026, in Spokane County Superior Court, Christopher W. Repetti (31) pleaded guilty to 2 counts of 2nd Degree Burglary and 1 count of 3rd Degree Retail Theft and was sentenced to 33 months in prison.

The case stems from a theft that occurred at a retail establishment in East Central Spokane in December of 2025. A security employee heard an emergency exit alarm go off and viewed surveillance video which showed Repetti take items off a rack, pass all points of sale, and exit the store through the emergency exit. He recognized Repetti as having been trespassed from the store after committing prior thefts there. A Sheriff’s deputy developed probable cause to charge Repetti with theft and burglary.

During sentencing, the State noted that Repetti was on community custody for a prior conviction for retail theft when he committed the current offenses. Repetti has prior 2nd Degree Burglary and 3rd Degree Theft convictions from earlier in 2025. The State also reminded the court that such thefts affect both retail establishments and consumers at large, as consumers ultimately pay higher prices to offset the cost of retail theft. Considering Repetti’s prior criminal history and the crimes of conviction, the statutory sentencing range was 33 to 44 months in prison. The State and defense jointly recommended a sentence of 33 months, due in part to Repetti’s acceptance of responsibility. Judge Charnelle Bjelkengren ordered Repetti to serve 33 months in prison, banned him from the retail outlet for ten years and ordered full restitution for the items he stole. The judge encouraged him to seek drug treatment while in prison, reminding him he can have a productive life if he makes the necessary changes.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Lindsay Gray handled the case for the State. We thank her and the Spokane County Sheriff's Office for their work.

05/18/2026

Former corrections officer sentenced to 6 months in jail for custodial s*xual misconduct

On May 15, 2026, in Spokane County Superior Court, Drew S. Seiffert (35) pleaded guilty to one count of 2nd Degree Custodial Sexual Misconduct and was sentenced to 6 months in jail. The statutory sentencing range for this crime with Seiffert’s lack of criminal history is 6 to 12 months.

Court documents show between Oct. 2022 and December 20202 Seiffert engaged in s*xual relations with a female inmate at the Spokane County Jail. The inmate was under the supervision of Seiffert who held a position of authority and influence over her. Another inmate witnessed s*xual activity between Seiffert and the inmate and notified a corrections sergeant. Corrections Internal Affairs investigated the alleged encounter and turned the case over to law enforcement.

During the sentencing hearing, the victim provided a statement read by a Victim Witness Advocate. She said the s*xual relations were consensual and that Seiffert did not take advantage of her. She believes Seiffert has been punished enough by losing his career and through the impact on his family. The State argued that regardless of the victim’s testimony that she was not harmed by Seiffert, the community was greatly harmed by his actions. The State proposed that Seiffert’s actions eroded public trust in the corrections system and posed a safety risk to other inmates. Judge Michelle Szambelan concurred that Seiffert’s actions eroded the authority of other guards and security officers and sentenced him to the joint resolution by the State and defense of 6 months in jail. Seiffert spoke to the court and apologized to his former jail colleagues and to his family for his actions.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Scott Donahue handled the case for the State. We thank him, our Victim Witness Advocates, and the Spokane County Sheriff's Office for their work on this case.

05/16/2026

Spokane man sentenced to more than 6 years to life in prison for child molestation and assault of two siblings

On May 15, 2026, in Spokane County Superior Court, Tiras J. Smith (36) was sentenced to 80 months to life in prison after a jury found him guilty of 1st Degree Child Molestation and 4th Degree Assault in January. Additionally, jurors found Smith used his position of trust in the commission of the crime of molestation. He was also ordered to lifetime community custody, lifetime s*x offender registration, lifetime no contact with the molestation victim, 5 years no contact with the assault victim, and he may not have contact with any minors for life.

Court documents and trial testimony show Smith lived in the same house as the siblings and they considered him a family member and authority figure. Both siblings describe inappropriate touching by Smith over a 7-year period beginning around 2014 when they were 8-9 years old. Eventually, when the female victim was around 13, she told her mother what Smith was doing and a police investigation began that resulted in Smith’s arrest and eventual trial. The jury found Smith guilty of child molestation of the male victim and assault of the female victim.

At the sentencing hearing, the State argued for an exceptional sentence saying the facts in the case warrant such. The aggravating factor of using a position of trust to commit a crime allows for an exceptional sentence and the State requested 12 additional months on the aggravator. Both children, now adults, provided victim impact statements. The female victim relayed that Smith’s actions stole their childhood and the male victim said what Smith did to him was heinous and disgusting. Smith has no prior criminal record. The statutory sentencing range for 1st Degree Child Molestation in Smith’s case is 51 to 68 months to life in prison. The range for 4th Degree Assault is up to 364 days in jail. Judge Marla Polin considered the trial testimony, the victim impact statements and noted that 1st Degree Molestation is a Class A Felony before sentencing Smith to an exceptional sentence of 80 months to life for the molestation crime – 68 months being the high end of the sentencing range, plus 12 months for the aggravator. The judge also imposed the high end of the sentencing range for the assault count of 364 days, to be served concurrently with the 80 months. Judge Polin said she hopes this resolution will finally provide a measure of justice for the victims and their family.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Dallas Montaño handled the case for the State. We thank her, our Victim/Witness Advocates, and the City of Spokane Police Department, particularly lead Detective Tiffany Austin, for their diligent work.

05/15/2026

Repeat offender sentenced to 4 years in prison for assaulting a woman he had been dating for a short time

On May 14, 2026, in Spokane County Superior Court, Joshua B. Wilson (30) was sentenced to 50 months in prison after a jury found him guilty of 2nd Degree Assault last month. By its special verdict, the jury also found Wilson and the victim were in a dating relationship.

The case stems from an incident in November of 2025. Although the victim did not testify at trial, the State’s evidence, as outlined in court documents, established that Wilson and the victim had dated for a few weeks before the incident, but she wanted to break it off. She went with him to his apartment in North Spokane to end the relationship. An argument ensued that resulted in Wilson headbutting her, which broke her nose and chipped a tooth. Although Wilson took away her cellphone, the victim was able to exit the bedroom and tell another person what happened. The victim then returned to the bedroom to get her phone. The witness observed Wilson push the victim to the ground. The witness called 911 and Wilson was arrested.

During sentencing, the State recommended the court impose 50 months of incarceration, the midpoint of the statutory sentencing range, arguing the sentence was warranted by Wilson’s 5 prior felony convictions, 2 domestic violence convictions, and the nature of the assault. Judge Annette Plese imposed the 50-month sentence, 18 months of community custody, and ordered Wilson not to contact the victim for a period of 10 years. The judge also made a finding of chemical dependency and encouraged Wilson to take advantage of prison programs to deal with his substance abuse and mental health.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Katie Berish handled this case. We thank her, our Victim/Witness Advocates, and the City of Spokane Police Department for their work on the case.

05/14/2026

Repeat offender who fired a gun into a bar after being told he would no longer be served sentenced to 22 months in prison

On May 11, 2026, in Spokane County Superior Court, Gibson Riklon (32) pleaded guilty to 1 count of 2nd Degree Assault and 1 count of 2nd Degree Unlawful Possession of a Firearm (UPF). Riklon was sentenced to 22 months in prison for the assault and 12 months and 1 day in prison for the UPF, to be served concurrently. Riklon was also ordered to serve 18 months of community custody.

The case stems from an incident in February of 2025 at a North Spokane pub. Court documents indicate Riklon was sitting at the bar when the bartender noticed he had a gun. The bartender told Riklon that because he had a gun, he would no longer be served and that Riklon needed to put the weapon in his car. Riklon left the bar but returned a few minutes later, opened the pub door and fired two shots into the bar in the direction of the employee. Fortunately, the employee was not hit. Riklon then drove away. Police arrived and obtained a description of Riklon’s vehicle. Although county deputies located the vehicle soon thereafter, Riklon fled from them. Officers later located Riklon’s unoccupied vehicle and initiated a K9 track to find Riklon, where he was hiding under a truck.

At the sentencing hearing, the State presented Riklon’s criminal history which includes a prior 2nd Degree Assault conviction and a prior 2nd Degree UPF conviction, making his current conviction a 2nd strike offense. In Washington State, the Three Strikes Law categorizes certain felony offenses as “most serious offenses” that can lead to life in prison without the possibility of parole if a defendant has been convicted of 3 or more such offenses. Judge Michelle Szambelan imposed the 22-month sentence and prohibited Riklon from having contact with the employee or entry into the pub for 10 years.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Dale Nagy handled the case. We thank him, our Victim/Witness Advocates, and the City of Spokane Police Department for their work on this case.