Second Wallace Teen Faces Murder Charge Count Upgraded Against 18-Year-Old Accused In Death Of Post Falls Man

Kootenai County prosecutors filed amended first-degree murder charges against 18-year-old Daniel Eby this week.

The Wallace man also is charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and attempted robbery.

His cousin, 14-year-old Jeremy Schmitz of Wallace, also is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Melvin Evenson, a Post Falls man who was found dead in his pickup truck off Chilco Road this April.

Schmitz’ stepfather, Clifford Hicks, is charged with accessory to murder.

In court action Wednesday, Magistrate Judge Robert Burton agreed to delay the preliminary hearing until mid-July to give public defenders time to gather lab results, autopsy reports and other potential case evidence.

“We’re in a whole new ballpark now,” said Eby’s Public Defender Brad Chapman.

Idaho’s felony murder rule allows prosecutors to charge someone with first-degree murder in such a case if they were committing a different felony when the murder happened.

Prosecutors contend Schmitz and Eby went to Evenson’s garage intending to rob him of money and drugs. Authorities have said Evenson died from numerous blows to the head with a baseball bat or wrench.

In the amended complaint, prosecutors allege Eby either directly committed the crime and/or asked others to leave the area prior to the robbery, acted as a lookout after the attempted robbery and then assisted in hiding the body after Evenson had been beaten to death.

, DataTimes