Washington serves on settlement team, secures $98K for state Medicaid program

OLYMPIA — Washington state will receive a total of roughly $98,000 as part of a $15 million state-federal settlement with BioScrip, Inc., a pharmacy that provided prescription drugs to Medicaid patients.

OLYMPIA—The Attorney General’s Office will make opening statements today in a trial to determine whether a Pierce County sex predator should remain confined at Washington’s Special Commitment Center.

Manual Lopez, 59, previously served time for rape and burglary. Upon his release, the Attorney General’s Office won a civil commitment trial on June 2, 2010, placing Lopez at the Special Commitment Center for sexually violent predators.  As allowed under the law, Lopez is now asking the court for unconditional release into the community.

 Courtesy of Washington State Department of Revenue

Courtesy of Office of the Insurance Commissioner 

OLYMPIA, Wash. – An investigation by Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s office has resulted in charges of theft and fraud against a Tacoma woman who attempted to collect insurance money for a car she claimed was stolen and destroyed in a fire.

Washington state Attorney General Robert Ferguson charged Donica Santos, 39, with single counts each of first-degree theft and insurance fraud after Kreidler’s Special Investigations Unit found evidence of the crimes.

$49M in principal mortgage reductions for struggling homeowners and $1,000+ cash payments to eligible foreclosed borrowers in Washington state

Tougher mortgage servicing standards hold Ocwen accountable for past practices, ensure fundamental servicing reforms

Attorney General’s Office keeps violent predator out of community

Yakima, Wash. —A Yakima jury today announced its unanimous verdict that a local sex offender is a sexually violent predator and should be civilly committed.  Jonathan Parsons, 38, had three prior convictions for sexual assaults against young boys.

The civil commitment trial started on Dec. 9, 2013. The trial team consisted of Assistant Attorneys General Mary Robnett and Katharine Hemann from the Attorney General’s Office Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) Unit.

Washington state leads effort to combat human trafficking

OLYMPIA — The Attorney General’s Office today released an informal opinion that addresses the most time-sensitive part of a four-part request made by Interim Grays Harbor County Prosecutor Gerald Fuller.  The opinion addresses the process for filling the vacancy in the Grays Harbor County Prosecutor’s office caused by the retirement of former prosecutor, Stew Menefee, in September.

OLYMPIA – Former Whitcom 911 Employee Guild treasurer Emily Kirk of Pullman, Wash., was sentenced to 60 days with 30 converted to community service after pleading guilty to Theft in the First Degree and Forgery for stealing $13,910 from the guild. The judge also issued fines totaling $800. Kirk has fully paid the restitution owed.
Prosecutors accused Kirk of drafting, signing and endorsing checks to herself and forging Guild President William Cory Brincken’s signature for a period of time from June 2011 through August 2012.
 

Admitted beating, strangling stepfather in burglary, domestic violence dispute

FERRY COUNTY, WASH.– Morgan Eugene  Christensen was sentenced Friday to more than  23 years in prison after pleading guilty to second degree murder with a deadly weapon and first degree burglary in Ferry County Superior Court.

Christensen broke into the home of his mother and stepfather in October 2012 then beat his stepfather with a tire iron and strangled him to death.