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Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Judge issues arrest warrant for Daigneault
RITZVILLE - A Spokane Valley man being tried in connection with an Adams County burglary case failed to return to court in the middle of his trial Thursday, April 25.
As a result, the Adams County Sheriff's Office is seeking public assistance in locating John Michael Daigneault. 50, who was subsequently convicted in absentia of burglary, court records show.
Daigneault was one of two people arrested in connection with the burglary of an Odessa-area farm in the 1900 block of state Highway 21, records show. While the farm has an Odessa address, it is located within Adams County.
According to Sheriff's Office records, Daigneault and Shannon D. Awtrey were arrested and charged with second-degree burglary in the case. The couple was stopped at about 4:23 p.m. after leaving the property in a pickup truck with a bed full of items.
Records show Daigneault is also facing a second-degree burglary charge in Lincoln County. He has a criminal record that includes cases in Spokane County, as well.
The search for Daigneault stems from his disappearance from court.
"During the trial, Mr. Daigneault failed to return to court after the lunch break, and after the defense rested their case," Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner said on social media. "The trail proceeded without him. They subsequently returned a guilty verdict."
Following the conviction, the Superior Court judge issued an arrest warrant for Daigneault, records show.
"We are seeking assistance in locating him," Wagner said.
Anyone with information on Daigneault's whereabouts is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 509-659-1122.
Roger Harnack is the owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
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