North Idaho Briefs2 June 20, 2012
Sex offender
sentenced for
not registering
COEUR d'ALENE -
A Plummer man was sentenced Tuesday to 24 months in prison for failing to register as a sex offender, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.
U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Jason Ray Sijohn, 45, to serve five years of supervised release following his prison term and perform 80 hours of community service. Sijohn pleaded guilty to the charge in March 2012.
According to court documents, Sijohn was found guilty of sexual abuse in 1999 in U.S. District Court in Idaho, and was sentenced to 84 months in prison.
Following his release from prison in 2005, Sijohn registered as a sex offender as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
In 2008, Sijohn failed to comply with registration requirements and was sentenced in 2009 in Idaho state court to five years of probation.
In April 2011, authorities learned that Sijohn moved without providing his current address to probation officials.
According to the plea agreement, between April and July 12, 2011, the date of his arrest, Sijohn did not have contact with his probation officer and was not living at his address in Plummer.
In August 2011, Sijohn admitted in state court that he had moved without notifying authorities.
Paws for AIDS Awareness event is set for July 14
The North Idaho AIDS Coalition (NIAC) will host an AIDS awareness walk for people and their pets on Saturday, July 14.
The walk will take place at Riverstone Park in Coeur d' Alene. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. and the walk lasts from 9-11 a.m. The cost to participate is $20 for each event T-shirt and $5 for each pet bandana.
A recent study shows pet ownership increases adherence to medicinal regimens in people diagnosed with HIV. Pets, particularly dogs, provide feelings of support and pleasure. They boost happiness, causing people to be more apt to care for themselves. Furry companions are a source of unconditional love. This is why NIAC decided to add them to the walk this year.
HIV/AIDS is present in North Idaho. Thus, awareness is important. Preventing infection is NIAC's foremost goal. They also wish to stress the importance of early detection of the disease. The organization is a nonprofit, providing care and advocacy for individuals infected with HIV, group prevention education, free risk assessment, free HIV testing, and counseling for Idaho's five northern counties.
Vintage gas pump reported stolen in Hayden
A Hayden classic car lover is down one costly novelty item.
Don Shafer has reported that an antique gas pump that fronted his workshop in the 11100 block of North Government Way was stolen either late Friday night or early Saturday morning.
The red '30s pump, which Shafer lit up at night, had been in his possession since 1988.
"It was just on display, in front of my shop," Shafer said.
He purchased it for $350 at a Hayden Lake farmhouse, he said, though he suspects it's actually worth at least a few thousand dollars.
"Just from hearsay," he said. "Some people are saying (it's worth) $2,000, some say $10,000."
The Kootenai County Sheriff's Department sent out a press release asking for help locating the item.
Anyone with information can contact Detective S. Ellis at: 446-1300.
Wildfire near Mountain Home destroys 6 homes
MOUNTAIN HOME (AP) - Authorities say a fast-moving wildfire near Mountain Home burned down six homes and destroyed several outbuildings.
Elmore County Sheriff Rick Layher says the fire was reported at 7:30 p.m. Monday and was fueled by wind gusts of up to 48 mph.
Bureau of Land Management spokeswoman Mallory Eils says 25 to 30 homes in the area were evacuated. No injuries were reported.
Layher says he was worried that strong winds would carry the fire toward more homes, but he says firefighters and the BLM quickly got the blaze under control. It burned about 150 acres.
The cause of the fire is unknown.
Southwest Idaho was under a red flag warning Sunday and Monday because of high temperatures, low humidity and high winds - conditions conducive to explosive and destructive fires.