Mistrial declared in child rape case against firefighter/paramedic

WALLA WALLA – A mistrial has been declared in Walla Walla County Superior Court in the case against a Walla Walla firefighter and paramedic accused of child molestation. Judge Brandon L. Johnson announced this week that the jury could not come to a unanimous verdict in the trial against Anthony Joel Spada, 47. He was on trial for child molestation in the first and second-degree, rape of a child in the third-degree, and communication with a minor for immoral purposes.

Spada pleaded not guilty to the charges.

According to court documents, Spada was arrested on March 23, 2022, after a 14-year-old girl who was known to Spada reported to her counselor that Spada had allegedly been touching her sexually and making her watch pornographic videos with him since she was 10.

The day after his arrest, Spada was released on his own recognizance with conditions. Johnson said those conditions would remain in place, which include no contact with the victim and the state’s witnesses. Walla Walla County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jennine Christensen said that on Thursday the court granted him leave to go to Oregon while waiting for a new trial.

Spada was placed on paid administrative leave from the Walla Walla Fire Department on March 23, 2022, when he was arrested.  Following the Washington State Department of Health’s decision to suspend his paramedic license, he became ineligible for paid administrative leave and has been using his accrued leave since the fall of 2022.

“He will remain on leave using his leave accruals, or in leave without pay status, pending the result of the criminal process,” Walla Walla Communications Manager Brenden Koch said.

Spada has also been instructed to stay out of city offices and not to contact any city employees pending an investigation. Walla Walla County Prosecuting Attorney Gabe Acosta said his office will retry this case and that date for that new trial will be set by the court.

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Elkhorn Media Group

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