Spokane city prosecutor vying for municipal court judge seat remains on leave following DUI arrest

Adam Papini, a city prosecutor running for a Spokane Municipal Court judge seat who was arrested and charged with driving drunk in early June, remains on leave at the Spokane City Prosecutor’s Office.

City of Spokane spokesman Brian Coddington echoed comments he made on June 7, saying that the office is continuing to investigate the criminal matter.

“They’re continuing to gather the facts as the legal case makes it’s way through the justice system,” he said. “Adam’s status remains unchanged.”

Papini did not return multiple calls, texts and emails seeking comment.

Papini was arrested on June 4 for allegedly driving drunk with his 10-year-old son in the back seat. A witness told police he saw Papini’s silver 2008 Ford Mustang driving erratically and crossing the centerline multiple times on Cheney Plaza Road.

Cheney police officer Rocky Hanni wrote in his report that when Papini was stopped at around 9 p.m. on First Street and Andrus Road, he denied drinking any alcohol. Hanni asked the attorney if he would voluntarily take a field sobriety test. Papini declined.

According to the report, Papini apparently asked Hanni to “do whatever [he] had to do but to please not do anything in front of his son.” The child was picked up by his mother while Papini was taken to the Cheney Police Department.

There, he blew a .161 more than an hour after he was detained.

On June 8, Papini was charged with driving under the influence, which comes with the penalty of having to install an ignition interlock device on his car. If convicted, he would have to serve 48 hours of jail time, or 30 days of community service.

Because he had a passenger under age 16 in the car, he would also have his license revoked for up to a year, and could be required to attend sobriety classes or undergo alcohol/drug victim impact treatment.

As part of his work in the city prosecutor’s office, Papini regularly prosecutes low-level crimes such as DUI and other misdemeanor cases. He is also one of the leaders of downtown Spokane’s community court, which addresses some crimes such as public urination and trespassing by offering sentencing alternatives to offenders who complete community service.

Papini’s next court date is on July 6 in Cheney Municipal Court.