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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015
BPD Thompson pleads not guilty to sexual assault disaacs@bothell-reporter.com
A Bothell police officer has pled not guilty to having sex with a teenage girl she met four years ago while working at Bothell High School as the resource officer. Dione Thompson, 45, is charged with two counts of first degree sexual miscon-
duct with a minor according to court documents. Thompson has been with the department for 17 years and is now a detective, responsible for sex offender notifications. The documents state that Thompson had sexual contact with the then 17-year-old girl in a patrol car outside a fast food restaurant, in the parking lot
of the Bothell library and in an unmarked Bothell police car in Kenmore, among other locations, mainly in vehicles. The teen, who has since opted to change sex and become a male, moved in with the officer for a period of time, the documents continue. The victim had felt that it was “all his fault” until he was hired on to an advo-
cacy center and underwent training in abuse. He then realized that Thompson had abused her authority and power when the relationship went sexual at Thompson’s behest. “[The victim] said that it took a while for him to figure out what it was that [Thompson] did wrong because he knew that the [ more BPD page 9 ]
Following evidence to justice
Bothell police Det. Mike Stone shows a photo of Susann Smith, which motivated the BPD to find her killer. For the full story see pages 8-9. DEANNA ISAACS, Bothell Reporter
Senior center celebrates a decade with open house BY DEANNA ISAACS Disaacs@bothell-reporter.com
The Kenmore Senior Center celebrated its 10th year open at the house in Rhododendron Park and the services it has been providing to seniors for a decade on Jan. 11.
Back in 1998, the city of Kenmore received Rhododendron Park from King County, which came with an old house and its annex. Then, in 2004, the city council granted the building to the Kenmore Senior Center (group) which had been
bouncing from place to place for meetings. “It’s wonderful it really is, I’m into my eighth year here as the program manager and I love it,” said Garreth Jeffers of the Kenmore Senior Center. “I just love what I do, otherwise I would have been
retired a long time ago, ‘cause I ain’t no spring chicken anymore!” The Senior Center is a welcoming place for seniors to come and chat while drinking coffee or tea, along with having a computer lab [ more CENTER page 3 ]
Alan Smith guilty of murdering wife Prior to the verdict, Judge Krese reviewed much of the evidence given during the nohomish County three-week trial. Superior Court Judge “These findings are supLinda Krese rendered ported by the evidence of trial the verdict of guilty to Bothell beyond a reasonable doubt. resident Alan Smith for the Susann Smith’s death was murder of his estranged unquestionably the wife Susann Smith result of homicidal in front of a packed violence, as found by courtroom on Feb. 4 the medical examinin Everett. The verer,” the judge stated. dict was eerily read “There is nothing just as the 2 p.m. bell that indicates that rang from outside of Alan Smith could the courtroom. Alan Smith not have committed Alan Smith was the crime.” arrested in June 2013 The judge also reitfor the suspected murder of erated much of the testimony his estranged wife, Susann heard, including testimony Smith, after she was found given by investigators, crime in her own home beaten 22 scene analysts and other times with blunt or sharp criminal experts. force objects and then “In the end, all of this drowned in a tub of water. evidence has to be considered The judge indicated that in light of Mr. Smith’s actions without the testimony from with Wendell Morris,” the Wendell Morris, who testified judge said. that Alan Smith confessed to With regards to whether him he committed the crime, the act was premeditated, the conviction may not have statements Smith made to to been possible. Rachael Amrine, former girl“Having reviewed [Morfriend of Alan Smith’s, comris’s] testimony several times, ments to others that “Alan the court finds it to be comwill never let the Susann take pelling and trustworthy...” the the kids to Germany” and judge said. “When it became particularly the efforts that clear to Mr. Morris that Alan were clearly taken to make Smith was not going to turn sure that trace evidence was himself in, he did what any not left at the scene of the conscientious citizen with crime, all point to premeditathat information would do tion, the judge stated. and reported it to the police Sentencing for Alan Smith himself.” will take place on Feb. 23 After the evidence and at the Snohomish County testimony were reviewed, the Courthouse. judge rendered her verdict. The verdict comes “This confession establishafter nearly two years of es beyond a reasonable doubt investigation and pre-trial that Alan Smith is responsible litigations following the for the murder of Susann discovery of Susann’s body Smith,” said Krese as the bell at her residence in Bothell. tolled outside. BY DEANNA ISAACS
Disaacs@bothell-Reporter.com
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