Sept. Newsletter - Illicit airplane texting case and more

Building a safe community: New Tacoma Weekly Column by Prosecutor Mark Lindquist

As your Prosecutor, my job is to keep our community safe. Keeping you safe is not my only duty as the people’s lawyer, but it is my main duty. Our office protects you in a variety of ways, some old-fashioned, some innovative. It’s all part of a brick-solid foundation.

I’ll be discussing our numerous public safety initiatives in this column. This is a preview of some of our efforts to protect you and your family, which I’ll cover in more detail in future columns. Read more

Pierce County Prosecutor's Office wins two awards

This year the National Association of Legal Secretaries (NALS) of Pierce County presented two 2017 awards to the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office. The first was the award for Outstanding Community Service. The second award for Boss of The Year was presented to Prosecutor Mark Lindquist. Read more.

500 cases resolved by High Priority Offender Unit (HPO)

He began his criminal career with a burglary in 2000. Before he turned 40, he racked up 16 felony convictions. Though he was versatile – stealing cars, committing identify theft, and dabbling in drugs, burglary remained his crime of choice.

This year he went on a short crime spree, which included yet another burglary. Our new data-driven system identified him as a High Priority Offender (HPO) based on his conduct and history. He was charged, convicted, and recently sentenced to several years in prison.

This was the 500th HPO case. Read more.

Woman charged with sex abuse in plane texting case

Gail Lynn Burnworth was charged with one count of child rape in the first degree, child molestation in the first degree, and two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor for allegedly exchanging explicit text messages about child molestation with Michael Kellar while he was onboard a flight from Seattle to San Jose. An alert passenger saw the texts, took pictures with her phone, and told airport security when she landed. Read more.

United States District Court dismisses $20 million claim of excessive force

In June, The Federal Western District Court of Tacoma dismissed all claims against Pierce County and a Pierce County Sheriff’s Deputy in the 2014 officer involved shooting that led to the death of Michael Lee Bourquin, 21. Pierce County moved to dismiss all claims in a pre-trial motion and won a major victory. Read more.

P rosecutor Lindquist discusses elder abuse and HPO before Wilkeson Town Council

Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist gave a public safety update to councilmembers at the regularly scheduled Wilkeson Town Council meeting. Read more.