Rights For The Wronged Rights Rally Marks Progress Made And Pain That Remains For Victims Of Crime

Holly Branch looks over her shoulder every time she gets out of her car.

She keeps a watchful eye for attackers and a free hand near her gun.

It never used to be that way.

The night Scott Yager gunned down her friend and co-worker, Linda Huff, in the Idaho State Police office’s parking lot two years ago, everything changed for Trooper Branch.

A security fence was erected around the headquarters’ parking lot on Prairie Avenue shortly after Huff’s murder.

Branch used to carry armloads of casework to her car after work. She used to greet people outside of the office looking for directions.

No more. She and others are on alert now.

“Now I come out of there with my gun hand free,” she said.

She, too, is one of the victims.

Branch was one of dozens of people, including law enforcement officers, human rights advocates, victims’ advocates, prosecutors and victims themselves, who gathered Wednesday afternoon at the Kootenai County courthouse to celebrate National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.

“Linda wasn’t just a trooper. She was a mom. A partner,” Branch told the crowd, as she fought back tears. “She was one of the community.”

Wednesday’s rally was sponsored by Kootenai County prosecutors and the Coeur d’Alene Women’s Center to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the victims’ rights week.

“This is our seven days,” Prosecutor Bill Douglas told the crowd.

Mark Scherling, whose son, Nick, died when a drunken driver swerved off the road and struck the 13-year-old, thanked the crowd.

“The community poured forth to make it as easy as possible to survive as a victim,” he said.

Although he thanked prosecutors and victims advocates for their help, he urged improvements.

Family members needing crisis counseling should have it readily available at all times, he said.

There were many times he needed to talk, but had to wait for scheduling, Scherling said.

“The crisis was then,” he said.

Daneka Keith, with the Inland Northwest chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said times have changed for victims.

“Thirty years ago there was no such thing as victims’ rights,” Keith said. “Your advocates were your friends, your family … the community as a whole.”

Now, more help is available through court-appointed advocates and other programs.