2nd Suspect Denies Killing Forester

A second youth charged with the first-degree murder of a Forest Service engineer near Weiser has pleaded innocent.

Appearing Friday before 3rd District Court Judge Stephen Drescher, 16-year-old Ronald Stiner entered his plea in the April 25 slaying of David Wheeler, 49, of Baker City, Ore. He also pleaded innocent to grand theft.

Stiner’s friend, Eric Scott Brown, 18, pleaded innocent on June 2 to the charges in the incident at the Mann Creek Guard Station in the Payette National Forest.

The two will be tried as adults. Third District Judge Dennis Goff scheduled their trial for Sept. 18, which could last 10 days. But Brown’s attorney, Bob Taisey, said the cases should be tried separately.

Police said the teens escaped from a non-secure juvenile detention trailer in Mountain Home, stole a vehicle and drove to Mann Creek. They believe the two took weapons from Brown’s father.

Wheeler was on loan to the Payette forest to inspect bridges. His body was found on April 26.

David Brent Dunn of Weiser said he gave the two youths a ride into Weiser, and Stiner was holding a sawed-off rifle. A Washington County sheriff’s deputy later spotted the boys in Weiser and took them into custody. Police found Wheeler’s keys and wallet in Brown’s pocket.