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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Mention Of Death Penalty Leaves Accused Idaho Teens Visibly Shaken

Associated Press

The two teenagers accused of murdering Forest Service engineer David Wheeler in April were back in court on Friday and appeared visibly shaken when advised they could be executed if convicted.

Eric Scott Brown, 18, pleaded innocent to the first-degree murder charge and related theft charges while Ronald Stiner, 16, delayed entering a plea until June 16.

Third District Judge Dennis Goff set Sept. 18 for the trial. He said the two teenagers will be tried together unless separate trials can be justified.

Authorities contend Brown and Stiner escaped from a non-secure uvenile detention facility in Mountain Home on April 25, stole a vehicle and drove to rural Washington County where they shot Wheeler in the back of the head the next day. Police believe the gun was taken from the home of Brown’s father.

Wheeler, 49, was based in Baker City, Ore., but was helping Payette National Forest officials conduct safety inspections of bridges in Idaho when he was killed.

As they did during their preliminary hearing in Magistrate Court a week ago, the teens were grinning and at times joking during the initial phase of Friday’s court proceeding.

But their attitude changed dramatically when Goff advised them that a first-degree murder conviction was punishable by either death or life in prison.

Brown, who was 17 at the time of the killing, visibly paled when Goff said the word “death.”

The pair remained in the Washington County Jail, where they have been held without bond since their April 26 arrest.