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Trustee resigns over library hiring flap
Posted: Thursday, Dec 29, 2005 - 08:20:05 am PST
By R.J. COHN
Staff writer

SANDPOINT -- A trustee for the East Bonner County Library, who served the library for nearly three years, has resigned her position following a community outcry over the hiring of a registered sex offender as the library's circulation attendant.

Karla Petermann, who was elected to a five-year term that was to run until 2007, tendered her letter of resignation to Susan Moore, chairperson of the Library Board of Trustees, effective Dec. 19.

"This decision (hiring Kristine Lutes, registered sex offender) and others made by Wayne Gunter have been of grave concern to me, and I feel that I no longer have confidence in his judgment nor can I support his vision for the library," said Petermann in a letter to the Daily Bee. "I do not want to be part of a Board who does not hold the Director accountable in a tangible way for his actions."

Petermann's letter appears in full on Page 4.

Lutes, 42, was hired by the library in late September after seven months as a library volunteer. She pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a Bonner County girl when she was 14 years old in 2003 and served one year in the Bonner County Jail.

Along with her husband -- Richard Brandon Lutes -- the couple initially faced as many as 41 felony sex counts, including rape and lewd conduct, when they were charged in the summer of 2002. She was also ordered to 15 years of supervised probation.

Library director Wayne Gunter said the district received written assurances from professionals involved in the hiring process that Lutes was the best qualified candidate for the position and there was no risk to the public.

Lutes tendered her resignation Nov. 29.

"I'll miss serving as a library trustee," said Petermann, who was initially appointed to the position before being elected in 2003. "I'm sorry to step down, but I felt because of the situation and how it was handled, there was no other choice. It was an unfortunate situation for everyone."

vee wrote on May 20, 2006 6:23 AM:

" It is nice to know that somebody at the library has standards. This is what Wayne Gunter should have and still should do! "

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Bonner County Daily Bee
P.O. Box 159 / Sandpoint, Idaho 83864 / 208-263-9534

Bonner County Daily Bee Online is updated at 10am PST.