The First Months on the Record: Our Ongoing Battle for Transparency
Since our launch, the Olympic Herald has committed to fearless, independent investigative journalism in Washington state, holding power accountable.
Without corporate backing, we follow the paper trails and ask the uncomfortable questions that others ignore. Below is a summary of our coverage thus far, highlighting our ongoing fight to expose systemic failures and local corruption.
Clark County
Ridgefield Abuse Cover-Up: A federal lawsuit accused an LDS stake president and a bishop in Ridgefield of negligence for utilizing the church’s internal “Abuse Help Line” rather than contacting authorities, effectively allowing an adoptive father to continue sexually abusing his teenage daughter.
Clallam County
The Hiring and Firing of Brian Parker: Superior Court Judge Brent Basden fast-tracked the appointment of Brian Parker to Family Court Commissioner, waiving standard probationary periods despite knowing Parker had been investigated for felony perjury in Snohomish County for lying under oath. After months of public outcry over Parker’s alleged stalking, public aggression, and lack of qualifications, Parker was terminated, but walked away with a massive taxpayer-funded severance package of nearly $70,000. Parker also absconded with a sensitive search warrant log upon his termination.
Judicial Cronyism: Judge Basden continually directed taxpayer money to his close friend and former business partner, Lane Wolfley. Basden appointed Wolfley to represent accused murderer Aaron Fisher at $250 an hour, and awarded him a $6,250-per-month conflict attorney contract. This occurred despite Wolfley’s history of professional misconduct, including a three-year Bar suspension for sexually exploiting a client, and an open-inactive money laundering investigation from 2004. Fisher was later convicted of first-degree manslaughter.
Deadly Decisions and Systemic Failure: Judge Basden has faced scrutiny for past rulings that denied protection to domestic violence victims, preceding a 2014 kidnapping and murder, and a 2015 child death. A 2026 state report also highlighted a staggering administrative collapse under his leadership, revealing that Clallam County accounted for 11.5% of all statewide domestic relations cases pending over 18 months.
DNR Fraud: Former Department of Natural Resources employee Kevin R. Peterson, based in Port Angeles, was charged with forgery and theft for misappropriating nearly $28,800 through falsified hotel invoices and unearned per diem payments.
First Amendment Violations: In an attempt to silence public criticism regarding Commissioner Parker, the Clallam County Superior Court disabled comments on its official Facebook page before abruptly deleting the entire page to avoid scrutiny.
Douglas County
Missing Narcotics: Medical assistant Ryan Robert Sprauer was formally charged with unprofessional conduct after workplace incidents involving erratic behavior, attempting to break into a locked medication office, missing narcotics, and prior DUI convictions.
Franklin County
Honor System Governance Fails: An investigation in the City of Mesa exposed that the former Clerk-Treasurer used a city debit card for over $12,000 in personal expenses—including vehicle loans and groceries—undetected by the Mayor and City Council.
Grant County
Educator Intoxication: A Moses Lake Elementary School teacher had her credential suspended by the state for repeated alcohol consumption and intoxication on school grounds, endangering the safety of students.
King County
Bellevue College Embezzlement: A fraud investigation revealed a Bellevue College employee misappropriated public funds by approving $70,000 in payments to a vendor she was secretly engaged to marry.
Mercer Island Phishing Loss: The City of Mercer Island lost $420,351 in public funds to a fraudulent vendor due to a severe breakdown in internal controls and verification protocols.
Judicial Misconduct: The Washington State Supreme Court held arguments over the fate of Judge Pro Tempore David Ruzumna, who allegedly forged a document with a judge’s stamp and court seal to secure a parking discount at a Seattle garage.
Church Cover-ups: A lawsuit filed in King County alleged that the LDS Church concealed the predatory behavior of a Seattle high priest, allowing him to groom and sexually abuse young girls during the 1980s.
Healthcare Practitioner Suspensions: The state suspended a Bellevue massage therapist for a severe pattern of sexual assault against clients, and a nursing assistant at THIRA Health was suspended after pleading guilty to providing cannabis and tobacco to a minor patient.
Kitsap County
Custody Evaluation Doctoring: Bainbridge Island psychologist Steve R. Tutty faced formal charges from the Department of Health for altering clinical recommendations in child custody reports to appease a paying parent.
Pierce County
Teacher Boundary Violations: A Bethel School District physical education teacher’s certificate was suspended for 90 days following a pattern of boundary violations with elementary students and engaging in a sexual act on school property with another educator.
Snohomish County
Presidential Threats: Everett resident Phillip Richard Wharton was indicted on federal charges after posting graphic social media threats to murder the President of the United States.
Teacher Misconduct: The OSPI suspended the certificate of a Marysville School District teacher for failing to report a student’s disclosure of a sexual relationship with a female staff member.
Spokane County
Town of Latah Embezzlement: A state audit detailed a massive loss of public funds in Latah, finding the former Clerk-Treasurer misappropriated over $75,000 using town credit cards and unearned payroll for personal expenses. She later pled guilty to first-degree theft.
Stevens County
Judicial Nepotism: District Court Judge Gina Tveit received a formal reprimand from the state Commission on Judicial Conduct after she hired her two adult children for court positions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yakima County
Workplace Sexual Harassment: The Department of Health charged nursing assistant Manuel Alcala with a severe, multi-year pattern of sexual harassment, assault, and workplace intimidation against his coworkers at a state-operated facility in Yakima.
The Ongoing Fight for Accountability
As demonstrated by our coverage across these various counties, the fight to expose systemic failures and local corruption is an ongoing battle in Washington state.
From judicial misconduct and embezzlement to severe breaches of public trust in our schools and healthcare facilities, the need for transparency has never been greater.
The Olympic Herald remains steadfast in its commitment to fearless, independent investigative journalism. Operating without corporate backing allows us to continue following the paper trails that lead to the truth.
We will keep asking the uncomfortable questions that others ignore to ensure that those in power are held accountable to the public they serve.