Attorney General’s Office presented arguments to defend I-502, uphold will of the voters

WENATCHEE — A second superior court judge today agreed with an opinion issued by the Attorney General’s Office last year, concluding that nothing in Initiative 502 overrides local governments’ authority to regulate or ban marijuana businesses.

OLYMPIA — Secretary of State Kim Wyman and Attorney General Bob Ferguson are urging Washington residents to make wise choices when giving money to charity, avoiding unscrupulous fundraising groups during the upcoming holidays and afterward.

The two statewide officials who deal most closely with charities also are sharing tips on how to give wisely.

SPOKANE — A Spokane County jury has decided that repeat sex offender James Jones is a dangerous predator and must be confined to the State’s Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island. In the interest of public safety, prosecutors from Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) Unit have been fighting since February 2013 to prevent Jones’ release into the community.

WALLA WALLA — Repeat convicted sex offender Maverick Lanning has agreed that he is a sexually violent predator. He will be committed indefinitely to the state’s Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island.

Lanning, 34, has been convicted of two sexually violent offenses, including first-degree child molestation in 1995 and 1996.
When Lanning was 15 years old, he was convicted of molesting a six-year-old girl. A year later, he was again caught and convicted of molesting the same girl.

WALLA WALLA — Prosecutors from Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s Sexually Violent Predator Unit (SVP) are in Walla Walla County, fighting to prevent the release of a convicted sex offender. 

Maverick Lanning, 34, has been convicted of at least two sexually violent offenses, including convictions for first-degree child molestation in 1995 and 1996.  In the interest of public safety, SVP prosecutors are seeking his involuntary commitment to the state’s Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island.

SEATTLE – Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s Public Counsel Unit today challenged a $32 million electric rate increase proposed by PacifiCorp, which operates in Washington as Pacific Power and Light Company. PacifiCorp serves approximately 132,000 electric customers in Yakima, Walla Walla, Garfield and Columbia Counties. Public Counsel believes the 9.5 percent rate increase for residential customers is too high. 

$28 million is the largest payout by a skilled-nursing chain to resolve government allegations of subpar care

Hundreds of residents at 15 Washington facilities will benefit from improved care

SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today that hundreds of residents at 15 skilled-nursing facilities in Washington will benefit from an unprecedented multistate agreement with Extendicare Health Services, Inc. (“Extendicare”) and its subsidiary, Progressive Step Corporation (“ProStep”).

SOUTH BEND — The Attorney General’s Office has filed charges against a former Pacific County Sheriff’s deputy accused of misconduct on the job.

Vance Owen Johnson is charged with official misconduct and reckless driving in Pacific County North District Court. Both charges are gross misdemeanors, which carry possible maximum penalties of 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.

SPOKANE — The Attorney General’s Office has charged a former Spokane County deputy prosecutor with rendering criminal assistance, a gross misdemeanor.

Marriya Wright is accused of helping Matthew Baumrucker evade police March 3 of this year. Baumrucker was wanted at the time on a warrant and on suspicion of assault.

While hiding in an apartment, Baumrucker allegedly called Wright for help. She allegedly advised him and later came and picked him up from the apartment.

More than 500,000 Washington customers may be entitled to restitution

OLYMPIA  — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced a $105 million agreement with AT&T Mobility LLC under which the company agreed to stop allowing unauthorized third-party service charges to be placed on subscribers’ telephone bills.