Colville Man Sentenced to 82 Months in Federal Prison for Attempted Kidnapping at the Spokane Tribe Casino
Spokane, Washington / Thursday, October 8, 2026 – First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on October 5, 2026, United States District Judge Rebecca L. Pennell sentenced Joseph Parisien to 70 months in federal prison following his conviction for Attempted Kidnapping in Indian Country. Part of that sentence was a consecutive term of 12 months in federal prison for violating the conditions of his supervised release associated with an earlier federal conviction. Judge Pennell also ordered that, following his sentence, Parisien be placed on a new three-year term of supervised release.
According to court documents, on April 26, 2024, Parisien and his intimate partner were at the Spokane Tribe Casino in Airway Heights, Washington. After his intimate partner left with a friend, Parisien was driven to the friend’s residence where he assaulted his intimate partner in the roadway. Parisien was observed knocking her to the ground and kicking her in the face.
Parisien and his intimate partner were then driven back to the Spokane Tribe Casino. Parisien removed his intimate partner from the vehicle and dragged her by her hair to the front passenger door of his truck. After Parisien had forced her inside the truck, his intimate partner opened the door and attempted to flee across the parking lot. Parisien ran her down, ripped her to the ground, and then dragged her across a rocky median back to his truck, again by her hair. After forcing her back into the front passenger seat and continuing to assault her, Parisien drove the truck with his intimate partner away from the Casino.
Law enforcement tracked Parisien to Parisien’s residence in Spokane, Washington, then a motel in Colville, Washington, and finally back to Spokane where his intimate partner was recovered on April 29, 2024. Parisien was arrested the next day.
“Prosecuting domestic violence, especially repeat offenders who continue to victimize in our communities, is essential not only to hold these individuals accountable, but to break cycles of harm, protect survivors, and send a clear message that violence in any form will not be tolerated,”
stated Serrano.
“Mr. Parisien's conduct in this case was appalling: he brutally assaulted his partner multiple times, even chasing her down when she tried to flee, and then escaped with her for several days while law enforcement tried to locate them,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “We hope this sentence sends a strong message that the FBI and our partners will combat violent crime in its many forms, on tribal lands and throughout the state of Washington.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the City of Airway Heights Police Department, the City of Spokane Police Department, the Spokane Tribal Police Department, the Colville Tribal Police Department, the Kalispel Tribal Police Department, and the Washington State Patrol. This case was prosecuted by Michael J. Ellis and Nowles H. Heinrich, Assistant United States Attorneys for the Eastern District of Washington.
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Washington
Spokane
