Court document details why charges dismissed against Spada
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, December 6th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – A court document filed by Walla Walla County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Michelle Mulhern said child sex crime charges against Walla Walla firefighter and paramedic Anthony Spada were dismissed on Dec. 1 because “the survivor has declined to participate in a second trial at this time.”
The charges were dismissed without prejudice which mean they can be refiled later should the alleged victim change her mind. In Washington, there is no statute of limitation on child molestation charges.
In March 2022, Spada was arrested after a 14-year-old girl reported to her counselor that he had allegedly been touching her sexually and making her watch pornographic videos with him since she was 10.
Spada pleaded not guilty to charges of child molestation in the first and second-degree, rape of a child in the third-degree, and communication with a minor for immoral purposes.
His first trial was declared a mistrial when the jury could not agree on a verdict. His second trial was scheduled to begin April 16, 2024. Attorneys Emily M. Gause and Laura Robinett said Friday that Spada passed a polygraph test around the time of his arrest and that the criminal charges were the result of complete fabrications.
Walla Walla Communication Manager Brendan Koch said Spada remains on unpaid administrative leave while the city completes an internal investigation.
Photo of Anthony Spada via Gause Law Offices
