Dad’s assault trial date set for March
A Spokane man charged with assaulting his 4-month-old daughter appeared Tuesday before a judge and had his trial set for March 6.
Juvenale J. Dacosta Jr., 29, was ordered to remain in the Spokane County Jail on a $250,000 bond by Superior Court Judge Maryann Moreno. Dacosta faces one count of second-degree assault of a child.
He was arrested last month while awaiting a custody hearing in which he planned to argue for the return of his injured daughter.
The case started Nov. 22 when the infant, Taryn Dacosta, was taken to Rockwood Clinic, and X-rays revealed 18 broken ribs, two broken legs and a fractured skull, Spokane police Sgt. Dave McCabe said in a previous interview.
Taryn was released from Sacred Heart Medical Center the day after Thanksgiving and was placed in the care of Child Protective Services. She is expected to make a full recovery.
Police seeking vandals caught on video at park
Post Falls police are looking for vandals who used a car to ram a handicapped parking sign and a portable outhouse at Falls Park early Monday morning.
Damage to the sign and outhouse was estimated at more than $1,000, according to a news release.
The vandalism was taped by the park’s video surveillance system. The crime occurred just before 1 a.m.
Police describe the car as a light-colored, two-door vehicle with dark-tinted windows and a sun roof.
The video can be viewed at www.postfallspolice.com under the “Press” section of the Web site. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at (208) 773-3517 or access the anonymous tip page on the Web site.
Mental health council honors judge, columnist
A Kootenai County judge and a local newspaper columnist were among those honored Tuesday by the State Council on Mental Health.
First District Judge John Mitchell and Coeur d’Alene Press columnist Sholeh Patrick were recognized for “exemplary service on behalf of people with mental illness,” according to a press release from the council.
Mitchell helped start and oversees Kootenai County’s Mental Health Drug Court, which celebrated its first graduate last week. The court aims to stop drug abuse and crime by those who have a mental illness.
The 14-month program requires participants to adhere to strict rules, drug tests and court-supervised treatment and counseling.
Patrick was honored for writing about mental health issues, the press release said. The council said Patrick helped to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and educate the public about mental health issues.
Snowboarder’s body found at Mount Baker
Bellingham A 31-year-old Bellingham man died while snowboarding at the Mount Baker Ski Area, the Whatcom County sheriff’s office said.
The man was identified as Matthew Aaron Chase.
Sheriff’s officers were called in to search for Chase on Monday after a friend reported the man missing after he failed to return from a run in a popular area known as “The Chute.”
The sheriff’s office called for help from Bellingham Mountain Rescue and the Snowmobile Club. Searchers found Chase on Monday evening, buried upside down in the snow at the base of a waterfall below a 10- to 15-foot rock face about halfway down The Chute.
Chase was an advanced snowboarder familiar with Mount Baker, Deputy George Ratayczak said. The accident occurred within the ski area boundary on an expert level run.