Suspect Has History Of Violence

A man accused of beating his roommate to death last weekend has a history of committing violent crimes, police say.

Kootenai County prosecutors charged James N. Moen, 28, with felony aggravated battery and with being a “persistent violator.”

Moen’s roommate, Mark Jones, died Sunday morning after the two got into a fight at the State Motel on Sherman Avenue, according to Coeur d’Alene Police officials.

Moen beat Jones in the chest with a shotgun during the argument that started Saturday afternoon, according to the police report.

But when police arrived Jones refused to press charges against his roommate. “He’s my friend,” he told police.

Jones also appeared to be unharmed and refused to go to the hospital. Jones told the hotel manager he didn’t have enough money for medical treatment.

Jones collapsed later Saturday evening. He was taken to Kootenai Medical Center, where he died almost 24 hours later.

According to an autopsy performed Monday, the blows to Jones’ chest fractured his rib cage and lacerated his spleen, causing his death.

According to police and court records, Saturday’s fight was not the first time Moen has turned violent.

Moen was convicted of misdemeanor battery in March 1994. He grabbed his brother David Moen by the hair and punched him several times in the face, according to a Coeur d’Alene Police report.

Lt. John Bassett said Moen also was convicted in Idaho and Oregon of battery with intent to commit a robbery and three counts of burglary.

Although Moen was arrested on suspicion of murder, Kootenai County Prosecutor Bill Douglas decided Monday to charge the Coeur d’Alene man with aggravated battery.

“When the Coeur d’Alene Police initially responded the victim did not desire to press charges, nor did he desire medical care and in the three hours succeeding that his condition deteriorated and he finally expired,” Douglas said.

Douglas also is asking for a an extended prison sentence for Moen because he is a “persistent violator.”

For the prosecutor to file that charge, the accused must have been convicted of at least two prior felonies.