Spokane, WA – Richard R. Barker has officially stepped down from his role as Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, effective July 7, 2025. Barker is returning to private legal practice in Spokane after more than a decade of service in the U.S. Department of Justice.
Barker’s career in federal prosecution began in 2014 and includes notable roles such as First Assistant U.S. Attorney, Tribal Liaison, and Coordinator for Computer Crime and Digital Assets. He previously served in Washington, D.C., as a homicide prosecutor before joining the Spokane office in 2019.
During his tenure, Barker handled several high-profile cases. He served as lead counsel in the trial of Zachery Holt and Dezmonique Tenzsley, who were convicted of murdering two Tribal members and attempting to kill a federal officer on the Colville Indian Reservation. He also led the prosecution of Ronald Craig Ilg, who tried to hire hitmen on the dark web, and Luis Esquival Balonos, who was convicted of trafficking over 100 pounds of illegal drugs.
Barker’s focus on drug trafficking also included work against the “Fetty Bros” organization, which distributed hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills in Eastern Washington. He collaborated with the City of Spokane to create a new Special U.S. Assistant Attorney position to target narcotics cases.
As First Assistant U.S. Attorney, Barker helped establish the district’s Appellate Division and worked to secure additional DOJ resources. He also played a key role in addressing the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP), including the hiring of the district’s first AUSA dedicated to MMIP cases. For his efforts, Barker received a Department of Justice Director’s Award in 2024.
“It has been an honor to represent the United States and seek justice for victims and their families,” Barker said in a statement. “Spokane has truly become home for me and my family.”
Stephanie Van Marter will now assume the role of Acting U.S. Attorney for the district. Barker praised her leadership, saying she will lead the office with “honor, integrity, and commitment to justice.”
In addition to his public service, Barker will continue teaching at Gonzaga University School of Law and serving as a Lawyer Representative to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
