Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office

08/31/2026

Man who made more than 1,600 phone calls to his victim given an upward exceptional sentence for repeatedly violating no contact orders and witness tampering

On August 28, 2026, in Spokane County Superior Court, Jacob A. Northrup (37) was sentenced to 10 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of 7 counts of Violation of a No Contact Order (VNCO) and 1 count of Witness Tampering in July.

The case stems from an ongoing dating relationship between Northrup and the victim. Court documents and trial testimony show that in October 2024, Northrup went to the victim’s home in Spokane Valley in violation of a no contact order she requested. Over a 2-year period when Northrup was in jail, he made 1,676 phone calls to the victim in violation of no contact orders. In several of those calls, Northrup urged the victim not to testify against him resulting in the Witness Tampering charge.

At the sentencing hearing, the victim pleaded with the court to release Northrup saying she wants to be his support system. The State argued for a sentence of 60 months for the VNCOs and 60 months for the Witness Tampering to be served consecutively rather than concurrently as the sentencing guidelines allow making this an exceptional sentence upward. The State’s request was based on Northrup’s criminal history, including 8 prior convictions related to domestic violence, his continual refusal to follow court orders, and his multiple domestic violence victims. The defense asked the court to impose an exceptional sentence downward to 18 months, or alternatively, a Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative (DOSA). Northrup told the court he has made careless decisions.

Judge Julie McKay followed the State’s recommendation, saying an exceptional sentence was warranted. The judge expressed the court’s lack of confidence that Northrup would follow any new court order, including an order for treatment. The judge also noted Northrup’s extensive criminal history. She ordered Northrup to 60 months in prison for all 7 VNCOs, and 60 months for Witness Tampering to be served consecutively for a total of 120 months.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Hannah Stearns and Gabrielle Marquez handled the case. We thank them, our Victim/Witness Advocates, and the Spokane County Sheriff's Office for their work on this case.

08/28/2026

Spokane man sentenced to more than 8 years in prison for s*xually assaulting a child and the unlawful imprisonment of the child’s mother

On August 25, 2026, in Spokane County Superior Court, Cameron J. Knight (25) was sentenced to 101 months to life in prison after a jury found him guilty of Child Molestation in the 1st Degree and Unlawful Imprisonment with Sexual Motivation in June. The case stems from an incident in mid-October 2023 at a home in the Five Mile Prairie area.

Court documents and trial testimony show the adult victim and her then 4-year-old daughter lived at the home with the adult victim’s boyfriend. On the night of Oct. 15, they invited friends – to include the defendant – over to watch football. The adults were all drinking. The adult victim woke up in the bathroom where the defendant was blocking her exit and telling her he was going to have s*x with her. The next day, the child victim told her mom that while she was sleeping, the defendant came into her room and touched her private parts. Law enforcement was notified, conducted an investigation, and requested the State charge Knight with several felony offenses.

At the sentencing hearing, the State argued for an exceptional sentence above the 67-89 month standard range for Child Molestation, based on the jury’s finding, by special verdict, that the defendant knew or should have known that the victim was particularly vulnerable or incapable of resistance. The standard sentencing range for the Unlawful Imprisonment charge was 9-24 months. Judge Marla Polin imposed an exceptional sentence upward, and sentenced Knight to 101 months to life in prison. He will be required to serve lifetime community custody, to register as a s*x offender, and to have no contact with the child victim for life.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Dallas Montaño and Richard Whaley handled the case. We thank them, our Victim/Witness Advocates, and the Spokane County Sheriff's Office for their strong work on this case.

08/24/2026

Prolific burglar/thief sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison

On August 18, 2026, in Spokane County Superior Court, Sean T. Ponder (40) pleaded guilty to 6 crimes related to a series of burglaries and thefts in January and June of this year. The charges Ponder pled guilty to are 2 counts of Residential Burglary, 1 count of 2nd Degree Commercial Burglary, 1 count of 1st Degree Theft, 1 count of 1st Degree Trafficking in Stolen Property and 1 count of 1st Degree Unlawful Possession of a Firearm. Ponder's criminal history consists of 18 felony convictions, including 4 Burglary and 3 Unlawful Possession of a Firearm convictions. Based on Ponder’s criminal history, his current charge of 1st Degree Unlawful Possession of a Firearm carried the highest standard range sentence with a high-end sentence of 116 months (9.7 years) under the Washington State sentencing guidelines.

Ponder’s crime spree included breaking into two homes, one in Chattaroy and one in Spokane Valley, and the business of a former employer located on E. Trent Ave., where he stole high-end valuables such as laptops, jewelry, and from one of the homes, a firearm.

At the sentencing hearing, victims of both residential burglaries told the court that Ponder took more than their belongings, he took their sense of safety and security. The State requested the court impose the high-end of the sentencing range on all 6 counts, arguing that such a sentence would promote greater community safety as Ponder is likely to reoffend. The Defense asked the court to impose a Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative (DOSA), arguing that substance abuse treatment would prevent his recidivism. Judge Michelle Szambelan declined to sentence Ponder to a DOSA, noting his significant conviction history and his staggering number of current convictions. Instead, Judge Szambelan followed the State’s recommendation and sentenced Ponder to the high-end of the sentencing range for each count to be served concurrently, totaling 116 months in prison.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Charles Crook handled the case for the State. We thank him, our Victim/Witness Advocates, the Spokane County Sheriff's Office, the Spokane Valley Police Department and the City of Spokane Police Department for their work.

08/11/2026

Ever wonder what your Prosecutor's Office does? Watch this short video and learn how we work for you! Spokane County

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

08/08/2026

Message from Prosecutor Preston McCollam:

I just had a great conversation with Attorney General Nick Brown and am encouraged that his office is ready to assist and support our community as we recover from this disaster.

We are jointly committed to holding fraudsters accountable should they mislead our community during recovery efforts. Consumer protection is incredibly important and I’m thankful our State partners are committed.

I also shared my concerns regarding the inadequacies of current state arson laws. We trail behind other western states in this area and it is high time we see change. We are jointly committed to reviewing current legislation on this issue.

The resilience and fortitude of our community is nothing short of miraculous. Please continue to care for one another.

Together we rise!

08/08/2026

Sharing this story from KHQ with comments from Spokane County Prosecutor Preston McCollam.

SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. — There are currently thousands of structures impacted by the Old Trails Fire. We now know, according to detectives, 37-Year-old Aaron Farinacci has confessed to starting that

08/04/2026

Please see this update from Spokane Courts regarding Court Operations amid the ongoing fires in Spokane and the surrounding area;

Spokane County Superior Court, Spokane County District Court, and the City of Spokane Municipal Court today issued Emergency Order No. 2026-02, updating court operations in response to the ongoing Spokane Complex Fire and related state and local emergency declarations.

Effective Wednesday, August 5, 2026, the courts will resume normal operations.

Jury trials remain suspended:
All criminal and civil jury trials scheduled to begin between August 3 and August 14, 2026, are continued and rescheduled to Monday, August 17, 2026. Jurors previously summoned for trials set for August 10 are excused. No criminal or civil jury trials will be conducted until at least August 17, 2026.

The courts continue to prioritize the safety of jurors, litigants, attorneys, staff, and the public while maintaining essential functions.

Monitor court operation updates at:
Spokane County Courts and Law website: www.spokanecounty.gov/922/Courts-Law

City of Spokane - Municipal Government: https://my.spokanecity.org/courts/municipal-court/

08/02/2026

Please see this important information from Spokane Courts. Spokane Courts Issue Emergency Order Adjusting Operations Due to Spokane Complex Fire.

Spokane County Superior Court, Spokane County District Court, and the City of Spokane Municipal Court today issued Emergency Order No. 2026-01 in response to the Spokane Complex Fire and related state and local emergency declarations.

The Governor of Washington, Spokane County Commissioners, and the Mayor of Spokane have all declared states of emergency due to the severe impact of the Spokane Complex fire. Tens of thousands of residents have been displaced or evacuated, an estimated 700 structures have been lost, and widespread power outages continue to affect up to 40,000 residents.

The Order continues the majority of civil and criminal matters scheduled for Monday, August 3, and Tuesday, August 4, 2026. The courts will reassess the need for any further continuances by 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 4, and will issue additional guidance if required.

Key provisions include:

• All criminal and civil jury trials scheduled to begin August 3 through August 7 are continued to Monday, August 10, 2026, or later. Jury summons for trials set for August 3 have been cancelled, and no jury trials will proceed until at least August 10. If you are a juror called for service August 3, 2026 through August 7, 2026 you are hereby excused from jury duty.

• Time between the date of this Order and the next scheduled trial date is excluded from time-for-trial calculations under applicable court rules.

• In-custody first appearances (including juvenile) and Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA) hearings will proceed as normally scheduled.

• Emergency ex parte matters, including Civil Protection Orders and related in forma pauperis requests, will continue to be heard.

The courts recognize the significant disruption caused by the fire, including widespread evacuations, power outages, and loss of structures. These measures are necessary to protect the safety of jurors, litigants, attorneys, staff, and the public while ensuring essential court functions continue.

Residents are encouraged to monitor official Spokane County Court and the Spokane Municipal Court websites and communication channels for updates as the situation evolves.

The Order remains in effect and may be extended or modified as conditions require.

Media Contact:
Spokane County Superior Court Administration please call
(509) 477-5790
Spokane County District Court Operations please call:
509-477-4770
Spokane Municipal Court Operations please call:
509-625-4400

08/02/2026

A message from Spokane County Prosecutor Preston McCollam;

“Our hearts and prayers are with our fellow community members as they face the devastating impact of these fires. During this difficult time, please keep those affected in your thoughts and lend a helping hand to your neighbors and their families whenever you can.

Please remain vigilant. Looters, thieves, and scam artists who seek to profit from our community’s suffering will not be tolerated. Anyone who takes advantage of this tragedy will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

In times like these, our community is strongest when we stand together, look out for one another, and refuse to let those who would exploit this hardship succeed."

07/31/2026

Man who sped through neighborhoods attempting to elude police sentenced to more than 2 months in jail

On July 30, 2026, in Spokane County Superior Court, Leslie J. Olson (44) was sentenced to 70 days in jail after a jury found him guilty of Attempting to Elude a Police Vehicle last month.

The case stems from an incident in April of 2025 in Northeast Spokane. Court documents and trial testimony reveal Olson was driving a vehicle that was under investigation when police activated their lights and sirens. Olson accelerated, ignoring their directive to pull over. Olson drove at speeds more than twice the posted limit through neighborhoods, failing to brake at uncontrolled intersections. Police tracked him until he stopped the vehicle and exited, leaving on foot. He was arrested walking away from the area.

At the sentencing hearing, the State argued for the maximum sentence of 90 days in jail. The State cited Olson’s disregard for the safety of others and for lawful authority that could have easily proven fatal, especially in neighborhoods and near schools. Olson’s criminal history includes 3 other convictions for Attempting to Elude and one for Possession of a Stolen Vehicle. Defense argued for no additional jail time outside the 2 days Olson had already served.
Judge Breean Beggs sentenced Olson to 70 days in jail.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Pat Schaff and Stuart Fox handled the case for the State. We thank them, our Victim/Witness Advocates, and the City of Spokane Police Department, particularly Detective Juan Rodriguez, for their good work.