Eldon Leinweber assaulted female patients, provided narcotic medications in exchange for sexual favors
WENATCHEE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today that a Douglas County Superior Court judge sentenced a former physician’s assistant from Waterville to the maximum sentence of 364 days confinement, with one year of community custody. Eldon Leinweber will serve six months in jail, followed by six months of electronic home monitoring.
The sentence was a result of a prosecution by the Attorney General’s Office against Leinweber for sexually assaulting multiple female patients.
According to charging documents, Leinweber engaged in sexual contact with some female patients who saw him at a local medical clinic in exchange for prescribing them narcotic pills and medications. Prior to the assaults, all of the women told Leinweber they needed narcotic pills and all of them also admitted to being addicted to narcotics. Women told investigators that Leinweber touched them inappropriately and he invited some of them to locations away from the clinic, where he would sexually assault them.
One woman told investigators, “If that’s the only way he’s going to give me the prescriptions, then I guess I gotta do it.”
Additional detail is available in charging documents.
Ferguson filed three criminal charges against Leinweber in February: second-degree rape, third-degree rape and indecent liberties. Prior to a trial, Leinweber pleaded guilty on Sept. 23 to two gross misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree assault with sexual motivation and solicitation to commit unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. All of the survivors in communication with the Attorney General’s Office supported the plea.
The Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Division’s criminal prosecutors argued that Leinweber serve a jail sentence of one year and serve one additional year in community custody. Leinweber surrendered his medical license.
“We expect medical professionals to take care of us, not take advantage of us,” Ferguson said. “I’m proud of my team for working to deliver accountability for these offenses and justice for the survivors.”
Case background
Leinweber was a licensed physician’s assistant who provided medical services at a clinic in Soap Lake. In 2019, prosecutors learned of allegations Leinweber provided narcotic pills and medications to patients in exchange for allowing him to commit sexual assaults on them.
The Attorney General’s Office prosecuted the case with the concurrence of the Douglas County Prosecutor. Under state law and the Washington State Constitution, the Medicaid Fraud Control Division of the Attorney General’s Office has concurrent authority and power with the prosecuting attorneys to investigate and prosecute crimes with the concurrence of the county prosecuting attorney.
Assistant Attorneys General Nick Carter and Rachel Sterett handled the case for the Attorney General’s Office.
The Washington Medicaid Fraud Control Division receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $10,873,316 for federal fiscal year 2025. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $3,624,436, is funded by Washington state Medicaid fraud recoveries.
IN OTHER STATE NEWS HEADLINES:
A better tomorrow: Washington sets the standard for safer products.
Have you ever thought about what is in the products you use every day—your cookware, cleaning supplies, or even your shampoo? Some products can contain toxic chemicals, and the gradual build-up of exposures and releases from all these products can eventually harm human health and the environment./DOE
Balancing wildlife conservation and wastewater infrastructure in Pasco
The City of Pasco’s Process Water Reuse Facility expansion is essential for meeting the growing wastewater treatment needs of local industries. This facility takes wastewater from food processing companies and treats the water (using algae) so it can be used in other ways. Recycling water reduces the burden on the city's public wastewater treatment plant and helps protect water quality in the Columbia River. The expansion began in 2023 and is still in progress. /DOE
DFI Urges Licensees to Prepare for Outage of NASAA Electronic Filing Depository Jan. 1 to Jan. 6/DFI
System will be offline for five days for migration to the cloud with a new URL and updated system support contact information
Olympia – The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Securities Division advises filers who use the North American Securities Administrators Association Electronic Filing Depository™ (“EFD”) that the system will be offline and unavailable to all filers and regulators Jan. 1 through Jan. 5. If your filing is due during those dates, DFI advises you to file before midnight, Dec. 31, 2024./DFI
Gov. Inslee appoints Susan E. Llorens to the King County Superior Court
Today Gov. Jay Inslee announced the appointment of Susan E. Llorens to the King County Superior Court. She is appointed to one of the two new seats approved by the King County Council, effective January 1, 2025. /Governor's office
https://governor.wa.gov/news/2025/gov-inslee-appoints-susan-e-llorens-king-county-superior-court
Boaters must stay 1,000 yards away from Southern Resident killer whales under expanded rules in Washington waters/WDFW
NEWS FROM OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION:
As $2,000 Annual Cap on Prescription Drug Costs for Medicare Patients Takes Effect, Senator Murray, Rep. Schrier Highlight Savings at Northaven Senior Living in Seattle
70,000+ seniors in Washington state, 4.5 million seniors nationwide will save hundreds or thousands of dollars each year thanks to the new annual cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for folks on Medicare Part D/From a press release issued 1/2/25
WORLD, NATION,BUSINESS:
World Headlines:
Secretary-General Appoints Jaap van Hierden of Netherlands United Nations Resident Coordinator in Mongolia/UN PRESS RELEASE
https://press.un.org/en/2025/sga2336.doc.htm
Pointing to ‘Escalatory Turn’ in Israeli-Houthi Conflict, Top Political, Peacebuilding Official Urges Action to Reverse Dangerous Trajectory, briefing Security Council/ UN PRESS RELEASE
https://press.un.org/en/2024/sc15958.doc.htm
United Nations Calls for Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize Nominations
The United Nations is now accepting nominations for the 2025 United Nations Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize./UN PRESS RELEASE
https://press.un.org/en/2025/pi2320.doc.htm
Remarks at a UN Security Council Meeting on the Situation in the Middle East/USUN
U.S. Recognizes Child Soldiering as Human Trafficking/DOD
NATION:
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Statement on New Orleans Attack/DOJ
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-merrick-b-garland-statement-new-orleans-attack
President Biden Announces Recipients of the Medal of Valor/WH
U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights Announces Resolution of Complaints Against Rutgers University Alleging Shared Ancestry Discrimination/ Dept. of Education
HUD Awards $40 Million to Prevent Evictions and Homelessness
The funding will deliver legal assistance to tenants facing eviction./HUD
https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_25_002
U.S. Surgeon General Issues New Advisory on Link Between Alcohol and Cancer Risk/HHS
BUSINESS:
Government Contractor Agrees to Pay $1M to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations for Submitting Fraudulent Bids on Prime Vendor Contracts/DOJ
Treasury Sanctions Technology Company for Support to Malicious Cyber Group/Treasury Dept.
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2769
Biden-Harris Administration Proposes Protections for Ruby Mountains
Withdrawal would protect wildlife habitat, cultural heritage and the thriving local outdoor recreation economy/USDA
https://www.usda.gov/article/biden-harris-administration-proposes-protections-ruby-mountains
Treasury and IRS propose regulations to update rules for tax professionals who can practice before the IRS/IRS
US Department of Labor awards over $600K in grant funding for continued jobs, training services in Washington communities affected by opioid crisis/US LABOR DEPT.
https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/eta/eta20250102-0
IN FOCUS & LOCAL MEETINGS:
IN FOCUS: Interior Department Announces Permanent Protections for Critical Land and Wildlife Migration Corridor in Grand Teton National Park.
JACKSON HOLE, WY — The Department of the Interior today announced the purchase from the State of Wyoming and permanent protection of the 640-acre Kelly parcel, a picturesque landscape known for mountain views and world-class wildlife habitat within Grand Teton National Park.
The parcel, which was state school trust land, had been the largest remaining piece of unprotected land within the boundaries of Grand Teton National Park. The permanent conservation of this square mile maintains essential connectivity for wildlife in the southern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem—one of the last remaining, nearly intact temperate ecosystems on the planet.
“Today marks an incredible milestone, decades in the making, to permanently protect an essential wildlife migration corridor and treasured landscape within Grand Teton National Park,” said Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. “This will benefit our public lands and Wyoming’s public school students for generations to come.”
In 2023, more than 10,000 people from across Wyoming and the United States participated in a public comment process related to the potential sale of the Kelly parcel, overwhelmingly supporting its conservation for wildlife, public enjoyment, and strengthening Wyoming’s economy. In 2023, visitors to Grand Teton National Park contributed $936 million and supported 9,370 jobs in gateway economies.
“People from every state come to Grand Teton National Park each year to enjoy the stunning landscapes and iconic wildlife protected in the park. We are grateful for the support of countless stewards in the park’s local community, Wyoming and across the nation who contributed their voices leading to this incredible conservation achievement that will benefit generations to come,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams.
The $100 million sale to preserve the Kelly parcel was made possible through an Interior Department and National Park Service (NPS) public-private partnership with the Grand Teton National Park Foundation and additional support from the National Park Foundation. The Department invested $62.4 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) paired with $37.6 million in private donations raised by Grand Teton National Park Foundation. All $100 million from the sale will directly benefit Wyoming’s public education system.
At no cost to taxpayers, the LWCF, which was created by Congress in 1964 and is administered by the NPS, supports increased public access to and protection for federal public lands and waters, and provides grants to state governments for the acquisition and development of public parks and other outdoor recreation sites. LWCF was fully funded by the Great American Outdoors Act.
Located within a key migration corridor for pronghorn, elk, and mule deer, the Kelly parcel provides critical wildlife habitat and extraordinary open space. Grand Teton National Park anchors this unique landscape, connecting Yellowstone National Park with the Bridger-Teton and Caribou-Targhee national forests, including the Upper Green River Valley and the Wind River, Gros Ventre, and Wyoming Range mountains. The parcel is the starting point for the Path of the Pronghorn—the longest land migration in the lower 48 states—and is a critical link to mule deer migration corridors that stretch to public, private and Tribal lands hundreds of miles away.
This purchase, through a combination of private philanthropy and federal funding, continues the tradition and generosity that helped establish present-day Grand Teton National Park in 1950. It carries on the vision and legacy of John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Laurance S. Rockefeller, and the Rockefeller family, who recognized the role of philanthropy in the permanent protection of critical lands for the public.
Today’s closing on the Kelly parcel completes an effort that spanned decades to exchange, trade or sell the state-owned school trust land within Grand Teton National Park. A Wyoming constitutional mandate requires that school trust lands, created at statehood in 1890, must generate income for the common school trust. Since the late 1990s, Wyoming’s congressional delegation, governor and state legislature have worked to resolve this inholding challenge. The late U.S. Senator Craig Thomas passed legislation in 2003 to authorize exchanges, sales or trades that would compensate the State of Wyoming for the Grand Teton school section inholdings. The second to last school section in the park, known as Antelope Flats, was purchased by the NPS in 2016 for $46 million, which was made possible by $23 million in philanthropic support raised by Grand Teton National Park Foundation and the National Park Foundation that matched $23 million from the LWCF.
CLALLAM COUNTY MEETINGS:
Clallam County work session for 1/6/25
https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01062025-1385
Clallam County Commission meeting for 1/7/25
https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01072025-1386
City of Port Angeles Council meeting for 1/7/25
https://www.cityofpa.us/DocumentCenter/View/16288/01072025-CC-Agenda
Port of Port Angeles Commission meeting for 1/7/25
https://portofpa.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Packet-1-7-2025.pdf
JEFFERSON COUNTY MEETINGS:
Jefferson County Commission meeting for 1/6/25
https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/95ac7a52-a835-43e7-b406-b2e1211ca3a1
Port of Port Townsend Commission meeting for 1/8/25
https://portofpt.com/wp-content/uploads/2025-01-08-CommMtg-Agenda.pdf
Weekly devotional
Micah 6:8 (New International Version)
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Weekly Bible Lesson:
Who Are We?
“Who was at the door?” you may have asked. In case you are wondering who we are and what we represent, I would like to give you a brief explanation. Let me begin by telling you who we are not. We are not Jehovah’s Witnesses or Seventh Day Adventists. We are not Baptists, Roman Catholics, Pentecostals, or Mormons. We are not part of any Catholic or Protestant body nor are we members of any alliance, council, or union of religious bodies. We are not a cult, or part of any denomination.--TFTW
https://truthfortheworld.org/who-are-we
Free bible studies (WBS)
https://www.worldbibleschool.org/
Learn English using the bible as text (WEI)
http://www.worldenglishinstitute.org/
(Join us in worship every Sunday starting at 10:30AM Church of Christ)
1233 E Front St, Port Angeles, WA 98362
Come and See
https://www.comeandseefoundation.org/
THIS WEEKS VIDEOS:
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been disqualified from the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump – and BlazeTV host @lizwheeler says Trump supporters should THANK her?! Liz and Glenn discuss how Fani Willis has been a “gift” to Trump, thanks to her scandals. But is her removal from the case enough to end it? Glenn and Liz also discuss another blessing that looked bad at first: Donald Trump’s loss in 2020 …Glenn Beck Show
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3vauEx1D5M
On Friday’s Mark Levin Show, WMAL’s Larry O’Connor fills in for Mark. Today was the first day of the 119th Congress and Mike Johnson was reelected as Speaker of the House after a dramatic first-round vote. 3 Republicans didn’t vote for Johnson, and it seemed like the vote would go to a second round. But then President Donald Trump got involved and Johnson eventually won it on the first ballot, which most predictions said wouldn’t happen. Also, Rep Hakeem Jeffries lost the Speaker race for the 20th time in just 2 years. Jeffries spoke before he handed the gavel to Johnson, and it sounded like he was about to introduce President Trump at a rally. He complained that costs were too high and that America is too expensive. Jeffries is right – but who was President and Vice President the last four years? Jeffries said he wants to help fix the problems in America, but he has to work with Trump if he wants to get things done. Why would the Democrats want to work with someone they called Hitler and a fascist? Finally, Jake Tapper isn’t a serious newsman, he’s no better than a propagandist. One of his reports on the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal is the center of a $1 Billion defamation lawsuit against CNN and Tapper. That goes to trial next week.--Mark Levin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dS-97mxklL8&t=1305s
Sunday morning worship at the Concord Street Church of Christ on December 29, 2024. Ted Thompson preached a sermon titled “God’s Faithfulness Through the Seasons”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RG_5HemDlU8
Other News Sources:
The Real Reason Judge Merchan Is Sentencing Trump on January 10--PJ MEDIA
Joe Biden Insults Kamala Harris On His Way Out--PJ MEDIA
https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2025/01/04/joe-biden-insults-kamala-harris-on-his-way-out-n4935659
Sorry, Canada — We Don’t Want You
Even if Trump were inclined to dust off War Plan Red, it wouldn’t be worth the effort.--Patriot Post
https://patriotpost.us/opinion/113233-sorry-canada-we-dont-want-you-2025-01-03
NIGHT OWL COMICS
https://pjrnightowlcomics.blogspot.com/
The Port Angeles Globe is published weekly by, Peter Ripley
