Bill Douglas
Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney

P.O. Box 3061,
Hayden Lake, ID 83835
(208) 769-4465

Elected November 4, 1988
Re-elected November 3, 1992
Re-elected November 6, 1996
Re-elected November 7, 2000
Re-elected November 3, 2004

Summary of Present Duties

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For the past eighteen years, as elected prosecutor, directly responsible and accountable to the public for filing, decision making and prosecution of over 5,000 criminal felony cases. Personally handled several high profile cases and issues. Directly responsible for filing and supervision of prosecution of thousands of misdemeanor, juvenile, child protective and mental commitment cases. Directly responsible and accountable for $1.6 million annual budget and 36 employees including 14 deputy prosecutors. Longest serving full time prosecuting attorney in Kootenai County history.

Personal Data

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Age: 60 Married 34 years to Geri Merriman Douglas

Three Children-- Matthew (26), Jeremy (24), Christopher (20)

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii

Education

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Seattle University BA, 1969
Gonzaga University Law School, J.D., 1973
The Judge Advocate General's (JAG) School at University of Virginia, 1976

Bar Membership

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Idaho Supreme Court
Oregon Supreme Court
United States Supreme Court
United States District Court, District of Idaho
United States Court of Appeals
United States Army Court of Military Review

Military

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• U.S. Army Military Intelligence Corps, 1973-1976
• U. S. Army Reserves, Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG) 1984-1997
• Presently Lieutenant Colonel U.S. Army Reserves, JAG (Ret.)
• Graduate, Army Command and General Staff College
• Graduate, Judge Advocate General Basic and Advanced Courses

Legal and Professional Background

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• Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney, 1989- Present
• Private Law Practice, Post Falls, 1987-1988, Lempesis and Kroeger, P.C.
• Deputy Public Defender, Kootenai County, Idaho, 1987-1988
• Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Kootenai County, Idaho, 1984-1987
• Prosecutor; Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (Civil and Criminal), U.S. Army, Judge Advocate General's Corps, Ft. Wainwright, AK, 1980-1983
• Government Appellate Division, U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps, Falls Church, VA, 1978-1980
• Prosecutor & U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps, 8th Infantry Division, Germany, 1976-1978
• Prosecutor and Briefing Officer; U.S. Army Intelligence Corps, 1973-1976
• Trial Team Member, U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps Reserves, 1984-1997 (JAG)

Organizations

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• Secretary, Governor's Firefighter and Police Medal of Honor Committee
• Idaho Supreme Court Criminal Rules Committee, present
• Governor's Child Mortality Committee, present
• Governor's Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T Council) 1993-1997
• Governor's Commission on Children and Youth, 1990-1992
• Chairman and Founder, Kootenai County Child Abuse Task Force 1990-Present
• President, Idaho Prosecuting Attorneys Association--1993
• Board of Directors, Idaho Prosecuting Attorneys Association, 1991- l999; 2001- Present
• Board of Directors, Children's Village, 1987-1995
• American Legion Post 143, 1988-Present
• Panhandle Kiwanis, 1989-1999 (past board member)
• Idaho Network for Children, 1990-1994
• Idaho Trial Lawyers Association, 1990-Present
• Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment (1990-1999 ) (board member/Idaho law enforcement representative)
• Inns of Court Member 1998-Present.

Awards and Honors

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• Leadership Award, CDA Women's Center, 1992
• Statewide nominee, Terry Reilly Child Abuse Prevention Award, Idaho Network for Children, 1994
• United States Army Meritorious Service Medals (2); United States Army Commendation Medals (3); Overseas Medal; National Defense Service Medal
• Outstanding Appellate Advocacy Award, United States Government Appellate Division, JAG, 1980
• Governor's Firefighter and Police Medal of Honor Commission
• Eagle Scout Badge

Professional Accomplishments

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• Implemented the first standing Grand Jury system in Kootenai County history (1996-Present)
• Idaho's First Conviction for Spousal Rape
• Idaho's First Conviction for Male Rape
• Idaho's First Conviction under Sex Offender Registration Law
• Kootenai County's largest embezzlement case
• Kootenai County's largest contractor fraud case
• Establishment and Founder of Kootenai County Child Abuse Task Force
• Establishment and Founder of Bear Cares program for child victims
• Establishment of victim waiting room
• Recovery of over $500,000 paid directly to victims
• Recovery of an additional $230,000 paid to victims of bad checks
• Service to over 3400 crime victims by Victim Assistance Unit
• Active partnership with the Kootenai County Domestic Violence Council and victim advocacy groups
• From 1985-1996 drafted over 1000 wills and rendered wide range of civil legal assistance to U.S. Army Reservists in Washington and Idaho
• Drafted Idaho's vulnerable adult abandonment law ( I.C.§18-1505A)
• Testified in support of stronger death penalty law and on behalf of Idaho's sex offender registration law (Megan's Law) and drafted proposed legislation (I.C. §18-8301, et.seq.)
• Administers Kootenai County's DUI Court which serves as Idaho's Pilot DUI Court Program.
• Won grant funding for Kootenai County's Drug Court
• Drafted and testified on behalf of "Carissa's Law" which increases public notification of violent sexual predators.
• Administers Kootenai County's Juvenile Drug Court.

Cases Personally Handled (partial list)

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State vs. Joseph E. Duncan III -- National high profile case involving the triple murder by a serial child killer
State vs. David Merritt -- First Degree Murder of 14 year old Carissa Benway. This prosecution led to the creation of "Carissa's Law."
State vs. Giovanni Mendiola -- Second Degree Murder of 20 year old Brendan Butler. Prosecution also of Piero Mendiola, Eddie Mendiola, Tony Garcia, and others for a related conspiracy.
State v. Yager -- Murder of Idaho State Police Trooper
State v. Stratton -- Contractor Fraud
State v. Elteto -- Skinhead Murder
State v. Biscope -- Skinhead Murder
State v. Frazer -- Murder
State v. Moore -- Domestic Violence Murder
State v. Maland -- Rape, Kidnapping
State v. Buckley -- Attempted Murder
State v. DeWolfe -- Rape
State v. Hayes -- Rape
State v. Raudebaugh -- Murder
State v. Kohl -- Manslaughter
State v. Opland -- Manslaughter
State v. Hylton -- Murder
State v. Bell -- Accessory
State v. Cameron -- Aggravated Battery
State v. Dushkin -- Tubbs Hill Rape Case
State v. Cherry -- Death Penalty Phase
State v. Barcella -- Deathy Penalty Phase
Weir v. United States --Medical malpractice, wrongful death of U.S. military dependent at Ft. Wainwright , Alaska

Presentations and Lectures (Partial List)

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• Idaho Supreme Court and Court of Appeals update to the First District and Kootenai County Bar Associations 2007
• "Domestic Terrorism" seminar for local, federal law enforcement, CDA 1998
• "Hate Crimes in the Northwest," Gonzaga University , 1998
• "In the Best Interest of the Children," First District Bar Asso. and School Districts, Post Falls, 1998
• "Taking Action/Making a Difference," Domestic Violence Seminar, Post Falls, 1998 (organized and sponsored with CDA Women's Center)
• "Ethics in Prosecution and Judicial Relations," New Prosecutor Course, 1996
• "Jury Selection," JAG Trial Team, Monterey, CA 1992
• "Ethical Standards for Members of the Armed Forces," 6241^st United States Army Reserve Center, Spokane, WA 1993
• "United States Supreme Court Cases and Trends," Kootenai County Bar Assoc. CDA, ID 1997
• "Supreme Court Update and Criminal Law Legislation," Kootenai County Bar Assoc., CDA, ID 1998
• "Medical Malpractice and the Federal Tort Claims Act," Lecture to I Corps and 9^th Division JAG attorneys, Ft. Lewis, WA 1992
• "Wills, Estates, and Your Private Legal Affairs," Premobilization civil legal training for Persian Gulf deployment, 50^th General Hospital, Spokane, WA 1991
• "Salute to Veterans," Veterans Day, CDA, ID 1998
• Idaho Appellate Court and Legislative Update, 2005

Avocations and Recreation

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Avid runner; Nordic and alpine skier, bicyclist; golf
Community volunteer work with spouse, Geri Douglas
Kids' sports; Third Place Team Division/CDA Triathlon, 1990