Tri-Cities crime and courts: Ponzi scheme, a wild DUI chase and more

A busy week in Tri-Cities crime and courts included fraud charges against an apartment bookkeeper, a new Superior Court judge and a dramatic highway pursuit caught on video. Here’s a roundup of the stories you may have missed.

Here are key takeaways:

• Bookkeeper charged in Ponzi scheme: A bookkeeper pleaded innocent to first-degree theft and five counts of second-degree theft after allegedly funneling tens of thousands of dollars in rent payments into her own account during her four years at a Kennewick apartment complex. Reported by Cameron Probert.

• New Superior Court judge named: Gov. Bob Ferguson picked a court commissioner to fill the Benton and Franklin Superior Court seat being vacated by Judge Diana Ruff on June 1. Reported by Cameron Probert.

• DUI chase caught on video: See the video showing a police pursuit ending with a suspect jumping from a moving car and scaling a wall along Highway 240 in Richland. Reported by Cameron Probert.

• Woman sentenced for sexual assault of teen: A woman is headed to jail after pleading guilty to grooming and assaulting a 13-year-old boy in 2020. The sentencing judge said he would “be pissed at myself for following this agreement.” Reported by Cameron Probert.

• Notorious inmates at Walla Walla: Nine high-profile prisoners — including Green River Killer Gary Ridgway and the Hillside Strangler — are serving sentences at Washington State Penitentiary. Reported by Karlee Van De Venter.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by Cory McCoy. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.