Dancer posts bond, released

August hearing set in Spokane

By ERIKA KIRSCH Western News Editor

A former Libby businessman and mayoral candidate was released from Spokane County Jail in Spokane, Wash. recently after posting $50,000 bail.

William A. Dancer posted bond on May 21 after a May 16 arrest on fugitive charges, according to Spokane County Jail dispatch. A hearing on fugitive charges is set for 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 10 in Spokane, according to Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney Mary Doran.

Dancer is wanted in Montana on charges of money laundering and theft for allegedly funneling over $400,000 from his former employer into businesses and personal property, according to previous reports.

Court documents stated, Dancer is accused of embezzling $425,000 from his former employer, Sagle, Idaho-based Independence Home Center. Dancer was the area's local sales manager for the company between Dec. 15, 2005 to approximately October 2006, court documents stated. The Independence Home Center filed a complaint for "financial indiscretions," according to previous statements made by Jim Sweet, Lincoln County Sheriff's Lt. Detective. An investigative report began on Oct. 11, 2006.

Dancer currently faces seven counts, including one count of money laundering and six counts of theft by embezzlement.

Dancer must appear in the Washington court on the fugitive charge and those courts make all the decisions on the conditions of Dancer's release, the bond amount set and court dates, said Lincoln County Deputy County Attorney Grant Gibson.

Authorities in Lincoln County are still waiting for a governor's warrant to extradite Dancer to Montana, Sweet said. That process could take approximately two months, Doran said. Dancer fought extradition to Montana.