Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
COLFAX — A homeless man accused of failing to register as a sex offender was sentenced at Whitman County Superior Court on Friday, April 7.
James Reiber, 49, was arrested on a warrant placed on Feb. 9 for failing to register as a sex offender for two prior charges. Whitman County Superior Court Judge, David Frazier, sentenced Reiber to 14 months in jail and probation following his release.
The maximum punishment for B felonies in 9A crimes is ten years imprisonment and a $20,000 fine.
A warrant went out for Reiber’s arrest in May 2007 after Reiber failed to provide the required registration information for a sex offense he was convicted of in 1996.
Rieber had been convicted of attempted child molestation in 1996 in the first degree.
Since then, he has been found knowingly to have failed to comply with the requirements by the state on two or more prior occasions.
By the state of Washington, a person must register with the county sheriff for the county of the person’s residence, or if not a resident of Washington State, the county of the person’s school, or place of employment or vocation.
An additional warrant was placed in November 2022 as he failed to register for a sex offense he was charged with in January 2022.
Officer Dan Brown at the Whitman County Sherrif’s office could not locate Reiber after a welfare check on Jul. 30, 2022.
“I was unable to locate anyone in that trailer, and I saw no change on the property from the last time I had been there,” said Brown. “I saw no new garbage, and there were no fresh tire marks in the dirt, and the place appeared to be abandoned.”
After speaking with the property owner, Brown was informed that Rieber had not been seen living there for about a month.
On Feb. 9, 2023, Rieber was spotted walking along the roadway, SR 193, west of Red Wolf Bridge.
Deputy Randy Miller reports seeing a male resembling Reiber walking along the roadway at around 10 p.m.
“I stopped my patrol vehicle and activated my rear emergency lights as I was stopped in the roadway due to no shoulder in the road,” Miller said.
After identifying the man as Rieber, Miller placed him in handcuffs and advised him of his rights.
“James argued that I could not detain or arrest him because he believed he was in Asotin County,” he said.
After questioning his current residential status, Reiber admitted to being homeless.
“I asked James if he had anything illegal or weapons in his bag, which was still over his shoulder. James told me there is a hatchet, knife, and maybe a dirty point.”
In Miller’s experience, he states that a “dirty point” is slang for drugs in a syringe.
Miller searched Reiber’s pockets and located a glass pipe common for smoking methamphetamine.
Residue of methamphetamine was found inside the pipe.
Reiber was issued a drug referral for possession of a controlled substance. This was his second drug referral.
Olivia Harnack is a Journalist at the Whitman County Gazette. Olivia is enrolled at University of Idaho and is majoring in digital film studies. She serves in the United States Army National Guard and is proud to serve Whitman County.
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