Graber appears in Orofino court

Graber sits in Clearwater County courtroom

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Story Published: Sep 5, 2008 at 10:20 PM PST

Story Updated: Nov 21, 2008 at 12:46 AM PST

By Stephanie Smith

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OROFINO - Patrick Graber appeared in Clearwater County Court Friday morning.

Graber is charged with lewd conduct with a minor under 16. The prosecution called Orofino Police officer Zachary Ward to the stand in Friday morning's preliminary hearing. Ward testified that he began investigating this case in 2006 but it remained inactive until last month.

"I had a previous investigation open around September of 2006," said Orofino Police Officer Zachary Ward. "Several years prior when I was working at the Orofino police department at the time. The nature of that investigation was a inappropriate sexual conduct relationship."

Ward assisted Patrick Graber's ex-wife Amanda Graber in setting up a phone call between the two. The recording was played Friday morning, in which the prosecution said Patrick allegedly admits to inappropriate relations and asks Amanda to lie to the police. Defense attorney Scott Galina cross examined Ward about the alleged victim's state during the first of three incidents.

"Did she indicate to you at anytime during the interview that consumption of alcohol or prescription drugs impaired her ability to recall or perceive events that night," said Defense Attorney Scott Galina."

"Yes she did," said Ward.

The alleged victim, now 18, also took the stand Friday. The mother of two said she believes the father of her eldest child is Graber.

The prosecution intends to call Amanda Graber as a witness in the case and according to court documents filed Friday Patrick passed by Amanda in the courthouse, cursing at her and calling her a liar. Patrick was taken into custody and is being arraigned on charges of intimidating a witness right now. In Friday morning's court proceedings it was alleged that this case is a counter attack to a pending wrongful death suit being filed against Amanda's Stepmother over the death of Patrick Jr.

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