Accused couple protest seizure
A North Idaho couple charged with first-degree murder have filed a complaint in federal court alleging their property was illegally seized by detectives investigating the case.
Keith A. Brown, 47, and Tyrah B. Brown, 25, are being held in Bonner County Jail on $5 million bail each in the alleged murder of Leslie C. Breaw, found dead near his Coolin home in March. He was reported missing in early February.
The Browns were arrested in Fort Myers, Fla., the day after Breaw’s body was found. Authorities seized a station wagon and a sailboat the Browns had purchased, allegedly with money they obtained from a $55,000 escrow check of Breaw’s that had been forged.
Bonner County sheriff’s Detective John Valdez testified in court that Detective John Long of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office in Florida said Tyrah Brown confessed to killing Breaw. Valdez said Brown told the detective she had shot Breaw in the face after she became tired of his sexual advances.
The Browns were living in a house on Breaw’s property.
The Browns’ handwritten complaint about the seizure of their property was filed July 6 at the U.S. District Court in Coeur d’Alene. They allege Long and Valdez improperly seized property in relation to theft charges that were later dropped.
Bonner County Deputy Prosecutor Louis Marshall said grand theft charges were not dropped.
He added that all of the items named in the Browns’ suit are listed as evidence in the criminal case against the couple and therefore cannot be returned.
“There is no merit to it,” Marshall said.
“We’re hopeful that the judge will throw the case out.”
Keith Brown was charged with first-degree murder and grand theft May 3; Tyrah Brown was charged with the same two counts May 22. Keith Brown is also charged with felony firearm possession.
The state is not seeking the death penalty.
In the civil case, the Browns are asking for the return of their property, the prosecution and dismissal of Valdez and $50,000 in damages.
“Because I cannot afford an attorney, (because my assets have been seized), I am at risk of losing my liberty because I cannot afford proper representation,” the complaint states.
Valdez said he couldn’t comment on the content of the Browns’ suit, which he called “crazy.”
“They’re just trying to mess with us,” he said.
A preliminary hearing in the Browns’ murder case is set for Aug. 3. The detectives must respond to the civil case by Aug. 2.