In brief: CdA teen’s trial in deaths will stay in Kootenai County

A Coeur d’Alene teenager accused of killing his father and brother last year will face trial in Kootenai County, a judge ruled last week.

Kootenai County Public Defender John Adams, who is representing Eldon Gale Samuel III, 15, had asked the judge to move Samuel’s trial outside the county, arguing that media coverage of his case makes it unlikely that his client could receive a fair trial locally.

But 1st District Judge Benjamin R. Simpson ruled this week that the case should move ahead in Kootenai County.

“The court does not find that the media reports have created an atmosphere utterly corrupt by press coverage,” Simpson’s ruling said. “When the trial matter begins, approximately 15 months will have elapsed between the majority of the news coverage and the July 13, 2015 trial.”

Samuel was 14 when he allegedly killed his father, Eldon Samuel Jr., and his 13-year-old brother, Jonathan Samuel, on March 24, 2014, inside the St. Vincent de Paul emergency housing unit where the three had been living.

Coast Guard plucks two Oregon surfers

NEWPORT, Ore. – The U.S. Coast Guard rescued two surfers from a cliff south of Yaquina Head in Newport.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Amanda Norcross said a helicopter crew was dispatched Saturday after getting a report that the surfers needed help.

The crew hoisted the surfers from the cliff and took them to a nearby beach. The surfers were not hurt.

Teacher arrested on sex abuse count

IDAHO FALLS – Idaho Falls police arrested a substitute teacher accused of sexually abusing a minor.

Police spokeswoman Joelyn Hansen told the Post Register that 66-year-old Paul E. “Rick” Landon was booked into the Bonneville County Jail on Friday and was held without bond.

Authorities have not released any information about the age or gender of the alleged victim, or if the child was a student in Landon’s class.

Landon worked as a substitute teacher in Idaho Falls School District 91.

District spokeswoman Margaret Wimborne said Landon joined the district’s substitute teacher pool in March 2012 after undergoing training and a background check.

Idaho Falls Police started the investigation Monday.

Trooper sues Oregon State Police

EUGENE – An Oregon State Police trooper who made headlines when he was ejected from a college football game in Eugene has filed a lawsuit against his employer, saying state police higher-ups threatened to fire him after he accused a lieutenant of illegally searching a motor home.

The Register-Guard newspaper reported the $1.6 million lawsuit was filed by Marc Boyd in U.S. District Court.

Boyd previously sued the city of Eugene, alleging he was wrongfully detained by police at an Oregon Ducks game in 2013. That case remains unresolved.

The latest suit states that Boyd remains employed by state police.