As a result of an investigation by Stevens County Sheriff’s office detectives last week, a south county man was arrested and brought before the Superior Court on two counts of Rape and a charge of Possession of Child Pornography. The charges are brought against Craig Morganstern of Nine Mile Falls. He was first arrested on the rape charges and a bond was set. Mr. Morganstern was able to make that bond and he was released.

As the investigation continued, probable cause on the Child Pornography charge was developed and he was rearrested and a bond was set on that charge as well. Before he was able to make bond on that case, Federal Marshals came to Stevens County and took Mr. Morganstern into federal custody to face federal charges relating to transportation of a child across state lines for manufacturing child pornography. At this time, Mr. Morganstern remains in federal custody without a bond. The exact charges have not yet been filed by the US Attorney’s office.

The people of Stevens County are well served by the dedicated staff of people working under the direction of Sheriff Kendle Allen. In a matter of a few hours, the department was focused on the investigation. Interviews were conducted, search warrants prepared and executed, evidence located and preserved and reports detailing the investigation prepared. I am pleased to be able be a part of this team of dedicated professionals and we work together to bring those to justice who threaten our peace and safety.

The hearing on the motion that I filed in September asking the District Court to review jury verdicts in several cases has been continued till sometime in December. We had originally requested a hearing date in early October, but Judge Tveit changed that till October 24. Then the date was changed again on October 20 as a result of Judge Tveit removing herself from the cases.

One of We the People has delivered a document warning a District Court Judge from Whitman County that he will be facing “criminal charges” if he does not allow an oral hearing on a demand for charges against Judge Tveit and I and other officials. The Judge had previously denied the request for a hearing because the rules governing such citizen complaints had not been followed. This is further evidence that We the People aim to get their way by threats and intimidation without respect to any rules or procedure. While they claim to espouse freedom, they practice lawlessness and disorderly conduct. They reject the law the rest of us work to support and defend.