County finally gets its murder charge
Athol resident Jonathan Wade Ellington now faces a second-degree murder charge for a New Year’s Day “road rage” incident during which he is accused of running down and killing a woman with his vehicle.
The Kootenai County prosecutor’s office originally sought a murder charge in the death, but a state magistrate ruled there was not enough evidence of malice.
The county returned to court, however, saying the charge of involuntary manslaughter did not reflect the seriousness of the crime. On Thursday, 1st District Magistrate Benjamin Simpson agreed Ellington should be tried for second-degree murder.
Deputy Prosecutor Art Verharen said additional expert testimony was used to reconstruct the events surrounding the death of 41-year-old Vonette Larsen. Authorities say she was run over by Ellington in an apparent fit of road rage. Larsen’s daughters and husband watched as Ellington allegedly ran her down with his Chevy Blazer.
Ellington remains in jail with bail set at $100,000, Verharen said. A trial date has not yet been set.
– James Hagengruber
BOISE
Lieutenant governor race gets challenger
Nampa businessman and Boise State adjunct professor Dan Romero announced his bid for lieutenant governor Friday at a news conference sponsored by the Idaho Democratic Party.
Joined by Democratic candidate for governor Jerry Brady, Romero touted himself as an everyday citizen looking to bring government back to the people rather than to special interest groups.
“I, as your lieutenant governor, will open the door to that office and become the voice of the many unheard residents of the state of Idaho,” Romero said.
Romero will face Republican candidate and current Lt. Governor Jim Risch in the November election.
– Meghann M. Cuniff
BOISE
Animal cruelty bills to go to lawmakers
Two animal cruelty bills are due to go before state lawmakers next week.
The Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee is scheduled to take up a bill Tuesday that would clarify existing law regarding abuse and neglect cases. That measure, sponsored by Sen. Kate Kelly, D-Boise, would make the owners of animals seized in cruelty cases liable for the cost of caring for those animals while the case is in the courts.
Under current law, the Idaho Humane Society pays the bill for animal care in cases that can drag on for months, said Jeff Rosenthal, director of the Idaho Humane Society in Boise.
And the House Agriculture Affairs Committee is due to vote Wednesday on a measure that would make it a felony to stage a dogfight.
Idaho is one of only two U.S. states where staging a dogfight isn’t a felony.
The Humane Society of the United States and other groups hope to change that with a law aimed at those who organize, attend or gamble at events that use dogfighting as entertainment.
– Associated Press