New trial ordered in Latah County death

BOISE – The Idaho Supreme Court has ordered a new trial for a 26-year-old artist sentenced to life in prison for killing a Latah County woman at her trailer home in 2001.

In an opinion Tuesday, the court said David Meister was unfairly convicted of murder and conspiracy to commit murder after the district court applied the wrong standard when excluding another possible suspect’s confessions.

Court documents show there were at least two reports that another man confessed to the shooting.

Tonya Hart was shot twice at point-blank range on the night of on Dec. 11, 2001, when she opened the back door of her mobile home north of Moscow. She was 21.

Meister initially told police he had been paid $1,100 by Hart’s boyfriend, Jesse Linderman, to kill Hart but then recanted and has since maintained his innocence.

Conspiracy charges filed against Linderman were dropped for lack of evidence, court documents said.

Second District Judge John Stegner sentenced Meister to life in prison without parole for first-degree murder and another 40 years for the conspiracy charge in 2003.

Stegner allowed the jury to hear the taped confession, and he read extensively from a printed transcript before sentencing Meister.

Meister testified at trial that police coerced him into confessing by threatening him with the death penalty.

Tips sought on pickup with flames on front

Witnesses to a narcotics robbery Monday morning provided the Spokane Police Department with a detailed description of a vehicle the robber may have used to escape.

The robber stole narcotics from the Rite Aid store at 29th Avenue and Regal Street in south Spokane, police said.

He approached the pharmacy about 10:30 a.m. with a note demanding narcotics and indicated he was armed, police said in a news release.

Witnesses said the robber may have left the scene in a four-wheel drive, standard cab, 1970s, dark-blue Toyota pickup with flames on the front, the release said.

Anyone with information about the vehicle or robbery can call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.

Meetings on mussels in CdA, Sandpoint

New Idaho programs to combat quagga and zebra mussels will be explained at two public meetings in North Idaho today.

State Rep. Eric Anderson, R-Priest Lake, and representatives of the Idaho Department of Agriculture, will explain the problem and proposed solutions. Those include invasive species stickers all boat owners must purchase and mandatory roadside boat inspections.

In Coeur d’Alene, the meeting will run from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Coeur d’Alene Library Community Room, 702 E. Front St. Attendees may bring their lunches; coffee will be provided. Sponsors include the Idaho Conservation League, Coeur d’Alene Tribe and Kootenai-Shoshone Soil and Conservation District.

In Sandpoint, the meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Sandpoint Community Hall, 204 First Ave.

This gathering, sponsored by the Bonner County Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force, also will include information on milfoil eradication efforts.

Report sparks fugitive manhunt

A massive search was launched Tuesday for fugitive Anthony Burke after a caller reported seeing a man fitting his description in the Spokane Valley area.

Federal, state and local authorities – up to 30 at one point – locked down about a two-mile perimeter around Judkins and Forker roads shortly before 5 p.m. while they looked for Burke, said Sgt. Dave Reagan, a spokesman for Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s helicopter also helped in the search.

Burke is wanted for is failure to report to Geiger Corrections Center, where his probation officer is located.

He has not committed any new crimes, Reagan said.

“But we do want this guy because we do consider him a high risk to reoffend.”

Spirit Lake man hurt in crash

A Spirit Lake, Idaho, man was injured Tuesday when he pulled out into oncoming traffic on U.S. Highway 95 in Hayden.

Ryan Krizenesky, 28, was taken to Kootenai Medical Center, according Idaho State Police.

The crash occurred about 4 p.m. as Krizenesky, driving a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am, turned off Wyoming Avenue onto the highway where he was struck by a 1996 Jeep Cherokee driven by Ryan Woodall of Hayden, police said.

Krizenesky was cited for failure to yield and no seatbelt, police said. Woodall, who was not injured, was cited for no proof of insurance.