A Colville man convicted of attempting to kidnap his intimate partner during a violent April 2024 incident at the Spokane Tribe Casino in Airway Heights, Washington, was sentenced on October 5, 2026, to 70 months in federal prison, plus a consecutive 12-month term for violating supervised release from an earlier federal conviction — a total of 82 months behind bars. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Pete Serrano announced the sentence, imposed by U.S. District Judge Rebecca L. Pennell, who also ordered Joseph Parisien to serve a new three-year term of supervised release once he is freed.
TL;DR: Joseph Parisien of Colville was sentenced October 5, 2026, to 82 months in federal prison for the attempted kidnapping of his intimate partner at the Spokane Tribe Casino in April 2024. The sentence combines 70 months for the kidnapping conviction with a consecutive 12-month term for violating supervised release from a prior federal conviction. The victim was recovered unharmed days after the assault.
A violent night in the casino parking lot
According to court documents cited in the Department of Justice press release, the events began on April 26, 2024, when Parisien and his intimate partner were at the Spokane Tribe Casino in Airway Heights. After his partner left the casino with a friend, Parisien was driven to the friend’s residence, where he assaulted his partner in the roadway. Witnesses saw him knock her to the ground and kick her.
Parisien and his partner were then driven back to the casino. There, prosecutors say, Parisien pulled his partner from the vehicle and dragged her by her hair to the front passenger door of his truck, forcing her inside. She managed to open the door and tried to flee across the parking lot. Parisien ran her down, knocked her to the ground, and dragged her across a rocky median back to his truck, again by her hair. He forced her back into the front passenger seat, continued to assault her, and drove away from the casino with her.
Days on the run before the recovery
Law enforcement launched a multi-day search for the pair. Investigators tracked Parisien from his residence in Spokane to a motel in Colville and finally back to Spokane, where his partner was recovered on April 29, 2024. Parisien was arrested the following day.
The case was investigated by a coalition of agencies: 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. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Ellis and Nowles H. Heinrich prosecuted the case for the Eastern District of Washington.
The 82-month sentence
Judge Pennell sentenced Parisien to 70 months in federal prison following his conviction for Attempted Kidnapping in Indian Country. She added a consecutive 12-month term for violating the conditions of his supervised release tied to an earlier federal conviction, bringing the total to 82 months, plus a new three-year term of supervised release after his release.
“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,” Serrano said.
W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office, called Parisien’s conduct “appalling” and said the bureau hopes the sentence sends a strong message that the FBI and its partners will combat violent crime on tribal lands and throughout Washington.
Frequently asked questions
What was Joseph Parisien convicted of?
Parisien was convicted in federal court of Attempted Kidnapping in Indian Country, stemming from the April 26, 2024 assault and abduction of his intimate partner at the Spokane Tribe Casino.
How long is his sentence?
82 months total: 70 months for the attempted kidnapping conviction, plus a consecutive 12-month term for violating supervised release from an earlier federal conviction. He must also serve a new three-year term of supervised release afterward.
Where is the Spokane Tribe Casino?
The Spokane Tribe Casino is in Airway Heights, Washington, just west of Spokane. It sits on the Spokane Tribe of Indians’ reservation land, which is why the case was charged as a federal crime in Indian Country.
Who is Joseph Parisien?
Parisien is a resident of Colville, Washington, who was previously convicted of a separate federal offense and was on supervised release at the time of the April 2024 incident.
What happened on April 26, 2024?
According to court documents, Parisien assaulted his intimate partner at a friend’s residence and then again in the Spokane Tribe Casino parking lot, where he dragged her by her hair into his truck. When she tried to flee, he chased her down, dragged her back across a rocky median, forced her inside, and drove away with her.
How was the victim recovered?
Law enforcement tracked Parisien from Spokane to a Colville motel and back to Spokane, where his partner was recovered on April 29, 2024. Parisien was arrested the next day.
Why was this a federal case?
The crime occurred on tribal land — the Spokane Tribe Casino sits on the Spokane Tribe’s reservation — so it was prosecuted under federal law as Attempted Kidnapping in Indian Country by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington.
Which agencies investigated?
The FBI, the Airway Heights and Spokane police departments, the Spokane Tribal, Colville Tribal, and Kalispel Tribal police departments, and the Washington State Patrol investigated the case.
Who announced the sentence?
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Pete Serrano of the Eastern District of Washington announced the sentence on behalf of the Department of Justice.
Featured image: Wikimedia Commons
