Attorney Faces Intimidation Charges

Attorney Klaus Wiebe faces a criminal charge of intimidating a witness in connection with an incident in 3rd District Court.

Courtroom observers allege Wiebe on Wednesday threatened two Hispanic prosecution witnesses that if they did not drop a traffic case against his client, he would report them to the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Wiebe denied speaking to the witnesses but acknowledges threatening to call the agency in a conversation with the deputy prosecutor.

The Canyon County prosecutor’s office filed the misdemeanor charge shortly after the incident. Wiebe could receive a maximum of six months in jail and a $300 fine if convicted of witness intimidation, Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Ron Wilper said.

Wiebe also could face disciplinary action by the Idaho State Bar, spokesman Michael Oths said. That could range from public reprimand to a license suspension for a period of time or disbarment, Oths said, adding the incident has not been reported to the bar association.

Wiebe is the Canyon County public defender, but was acting as a private attorney in Wednesday’s case.