Man arrested after death pleads not guilty

A Coeur d'Alene Tribe official said a man arrested in connection with a suspicious death on Friday in Plummer has pleaded not guilty to multiple related charges.

Joseph L. James, 28, of Plummer, made his first appearance in Coeur d'Alene Tribal Court Monday before Chief Judge William Douglas. His bond was set at $500,000, Tribe spokeswoman Heather Keen said.

She said James is charged with criminal homicide, aggravated battery, and burglary, all under Coeur d'Alene Tribal code.

Thomas R. Schoolcraft, 39, was found dead in a trailer home across the street from the Coeur d'Alene Tribal Headquarters.

The authorities haven't revealed what caused his death.

Debbie Dujanovic Bertram, a spokeswoman for the FBI, said the bureau and tribal authorities are continuing to investigate Schoolcraft's death.

In an email Friday, Bertram said, "Today we are not releasing any further details because of the ongoing investigation."

She said only one person has been booked into jail.

"Once the facts have been gathered, it will be up to prosecutors to determine whether the case will move forward in tribal or federal court," Bertram said.

She said she didn't have a time frame for when the investigation would be completed.

Benewah County Coroner Ronald Hodge said Friday he didn't have information from an autopsy performed in Spokane. He said the medical examiner there was waiting on radiology test results.

A death notice for Schoolcraft said he was a resident of Worley.