In a Feb. 14 news release, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office announced investigative task force detective Tamie Spitzer arrested 36-year-old Katie M. Rafter for first-degree theft in relation to a month long investigation involving money donated to the Luhr & Honken Memorial Benefit fund.
The release states that on Jan. 12 Deputy Ken Dodge responded to a report of donated funds being embezzled from the Luhr & Honken Memorial Benefit event, which was held in October 2016. The fund was established to raise money for the families of Justin Honken and Justin Luhr, who lost their lives in a boat crash on Lake Coeur d’Alene last July. Both men were involved in the local rodeo community and several of their friends wanted to help their families with expenses. The event raised approximately $30,000.
Two community members had access to the fund’s bank account, one being Rafter. Spitzer began looking into the finances of the fund raising effort, obtained a search warrant for the financial records and conducted interviews.
Spitzer made the arrest after she developed probable cause to believe Rafter stole approximately $14,000 from the fund.
Rafter was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail.
The release added that the second person who had access to the bank account was cooperative during the investigations and provided detailed information to detectives. Investigators do not believe the individual was involved with the theft.
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