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Anthony Tomashefsky

Investigative journalist covering Washington courts, judicial conduct, and local government. Member, Society of Professional Journalists.

Anthony Tomashefsky's Work 410 Articles
Courts & Law   -   May 26, 2026 Appeals Court Upholds West Seattle Murder Conviction, Clarifies Anti-Bias Jury Rules in King County Case

A violent 2022 crime spree in West Seattle that ended in a nearly 60-year prison sentence recently made its way to the Washington State Court of Appeals, asking justices to answer complex questions about racial bias, jury selection, and the limits of the state’s anti-discrimination rules. The

Criminal Justice   -   May 22, 2026 Former Wenatchee LDS Stake President Charged With Wire Fraud

Patrick Alan Bucknum, a former healthcare executive and high-ranking local leader for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has been federally charged with wire fraud following allegations that he embezzled more than $30 million from his employer. In April 2019, Bucknum was called to serve as

May 22, 2026 Multi-Agency Search Underway for Person Overboard Near Point Wilson

A massive multi-agency search and rescue operation is currently underway in the waters near Point Wilson after an individual reportedly fell overboard from a 12-foot vessel. The U.S. Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound initiated the public alert, stating that they are actively searching the vicinity for the

Education   -   May 22, 2026 Cheney High School Substitute Teacher Suspended Following Second Investigation into Student Interactions

A Washington State substitute teacher has had his credentials suspended for a minimum of six months following a series of disturbing comments directed at high school students, according to a recent disciplinary order issued by the state’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. State documents reveal that Ethan Whitney,

Courts & Law   -   May 21, 2026 A Slap in the Face: Clallam County Appoints Lorraine Rimson to Replace Disgraced Commissioner Brian Parker

Four months after the Clallam County Superior Court was forced to abruptly terminate Family Court Commissioner Brian Parker in the wake of a highly public scandal, the court has finally named his replacement. But for the families relying on the local justice system, the new appointment offers little relief. Lorraine

Education   -   May 21, 2026 Longview Schools Superintendent Arrested in Alleged Cover-Up of Student Sexual Assault

Longview Public Schools Superintendent Karen Cloninger was arrested Thursday morning on felony and misdemeanor charges in connection with an ongoing police investigation into a reported sexual assault case involving students at Mark Morris High School. The Longview Police Department confirmed the 9:26 a.m. arrest in a statement, noting

Courts & Law   -   May 21, 2026 Phantom Reports and 'Fatal Flaws': The Controversial Evaluator Derailing a Mother's Fight for Her Children

In a case that strikes at the heart of systemic judicial failures and the rights of domestic violence survivors, Melissa Strawn is taking her fight to the Washington State Court of Appeals. On May 11, 2026, Strawn filed an exhaustive 83-page appellate brief seeking to overturn devastating King County

Education   -   May 20, 2026 Running on Fumes: The 17-Year-Old Computer System Holding Our Schools’ $30 Billion Budget Together

Every month, the financial lifeblood of Washington’s 295 school districts flows from the state capital into local bank accounts. It is the money that fuels school operations and ensures that teachers, cafeteria workers, and custodians receive their paychecks. For the 2023-2025 biennium, that flow amounts to $30 billion.

Criminal Justice   -   May 20, 2026 Port Orchard Man Arrested on Suspicion of DUI and Hit-and-Run Following Early Morning Crash

A 38-year-old Port Orchard man is facing multiple charges after deputies say he crashed his SUV into a ditch, struck neighborhood property, and fled the scene to seek medical treatment early Tuesday morning. According to the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the 3700 block of

Courts & Law   -   May 20, 2026 Lawsuit Alleges Former Commissioner Brian Parker Sexually Harassed DV Survivor and Conspired to Strip Her of Custody

A sweeping, 148-page civil lawsuit has laid bare the alleged origins of the scandals surrounding disgraced former Clallam County Superior Court Commissioner Brian Parker. The First Amended Complaint, filed by domestic violence survivor Gina Bloom, accuses Parker and prominent Everett attorneys Damon Canfield and Jennifer Bitner of orchestrating a

Criminal Justice   -   May 19, 2026 Mason County Man Arrested in Child Exploitation Investigation

A 42-year-old Mason County man was arrested Tuesday in connection with an ongoing Internet Crimes Against Children investigation, according to the Mason County Sheriff’s Office. The suspect was taken into custody without incident at his place of employment Tuesday afternoon. Following the arrest, detectives served a search

Courts & Law   -   May 19, 2026 State Appeals Court Revives King County Lawsuit Over Boeing’s ‘Preconception’ Duty to Workers' Children

A ruling from the Washington State Court of Appeals has cleared the way for a King County family to sue The Boeing Company, holding that employers can be held liable for injuries to a worker’s not-yet-conceived child. In a published opinion filed yesterday, Division I of the

Public Health   -   May 18, 2026 As Criminal Probe Widens, Kaiser Sued for Allegedly Ignoring Doctor's Abuse

A sprawling child exploitation investigation that rocked Clark County has now spilled into civil court. Two lawsuits accuse multiple Kaiser Permanente entities of ignoring decades of warning signs surrounding a deceased local pediatrician. Dr. Michael R. Wilmington, who authorities say took his own life in Lewis County on May 2

Courts & Law   -   May 18, 2026 Appeals Court Reverses Grant County Child Sex Abuse Conviction Over Undisclosed "Witness Signaling" Claim

The Washington State Court of Appeals reversed the convictions of a Grant County man for child rape, molestation, and incest today, ruling that a trial judge violated the “appearance of fairness doctrine” by failing to disclose allegations that a local victim advocate signaled to the child witnesses while they testified.

Free Speech   -   May 16, 2026 Judge Houser Grants Media's Request for Cameras in the Courtroom

In another victory for transparency and the First Amendment, visiting Kitsap County Judge Houser has delivered another blow to Benjamin Mavy’s attempt to orchestrate his censorship campaign in the shadows. On May 14, 2026, Judge Houser granted The Olympic Herald’s request to bring a camera crew into the

Courts & Law   -   May 16, 2026 LDS Church's Controversial "No Legal Duty" Abuse Defense Faces Federal Showdown in July

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is heading to federal court this summer to defend a legal position that has stunned child advocates and survivors alike: the assertion that the institution had “no legal duty” to intervene and protect a child from sexual abuse. A scheduling order

Criminal Justice   -   May 14, 2026 Port Angeles Man Arrested in Murder of Danny Kendrick

A major breakthrough has occurred in the ongoing investigation into the February death of a 73-year-old Clallam County resident, with authorities arresting a 46-year-old Port Angeles man on murder charges following a massive, multi-agency operation. Clinton Laverne King was taken into custody without incident on

Education   -   May 13, 2026 "Cultural Collateral Damage": QVSD’s Reckoning Deepens Amid New Allegations

The Quillayute Valley School District is running out of places to hide. Following a devastating jury verdict that found the district cultivated a hostile work environment, the administration’s bureaucratic shield is officially shattering. Late last month, the community launched its first devastating salvo against the district’s culture of

Free Speech   -   May 12, 2026 The Sequim School District Ban They Hid From You: Why is This Man Trying to Sue Us Into Silence?
The Sequim School District Ban They Hid From You: Why is This Man Trying to Sue Us Into Silence?

The ink was barely dry on our latest victory for the First Amendment when the next attack arrived. Just weeks after The Olympic Herald successfully defeated an egregious attempt to levy a coercive, publication-killing $2,000-per-day fine to silence our reporting, Benjamin Mavy—a former member of

Free Speech   -   May 12, 2026 Court of Appeals Rules in Favor of Olympic Herald Journalist's Motion

In a major victory for press freedom and First Amendment rights, the Washington State Court of Appeals Division II has granted a motion to publish a pivotal decision regarding the constitutional limits of civil protection orders. 📄 D2 60325 Published Opinion (230KB ∙ PDF file) As an investigative journalist for The Olympic

Criminal Justice   -   May 12, 2026 High-Risk Search Warrant Executed in Connection with February Homicide of Port Angeles Senior

Law enforcement officials made a significant move on Monday in the ongoing investigation into the February murder of 73-year-old Clallam County resident Danny Kendrick. On May 11, Clallam County Sheriff’s Detectives, aided by the Peninsula Crisis Response Team and the Port Angeles Police Department, executed a high-

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