Castagna Sentenced In Petty Theft Case
COEUR D’ALENE — The man who allegedly extorted money from a Washington lawmaker has been sentenced in a separate case for stealing money from a woman at the Coeur d’Alene Casino.
Cody Castagna, 27, appeared in Kootenai County court Friday for sentencing on a charge of petty theft. He was originally charged with grand theft, a felony, but that charge was reduced after he agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors.
Castagna admitted to taking and cashing a woman’s $1,700 gambling ticket at the Coeur d’Alene Casino. Under this sentence he has to pay that money back and he will not have to serve the full year; in fact he will only spend two days behind bars.
During that time he will be giving back to the community with the sheriff’s labor program.
Last Summer Castagna was involved in the attempted extortion of a now former state representative from western Washington. Castagna met former lawmaker Richard Curtis at the Hollywood Erotic Boutique on East Sprague and the pair met later the same evening at Curtis’ room in the Davenport Tower where Castagna says Curtis offered him $1,000 for unprotected sex.
Castagna reportedly took Curtis’ wallet and demanded the money in exchange for the return of his wallet. Within days the story broke and Curtis swiftly resigned his position in the state legislature.
Castagna has pled not guilty to all charges stemming from that incident.
