Spokane man jailed for partially nude unlawful entry

SANDPOINT - A Spokane businessman pleaded guilty Friday to unlawful entry for breaking into a neighbor's vacation home in Laclede while wearing only a hooded sweatshirt and flip flops.

Bonner County Magistrate Court Judge Lori Meulenberg sentenced Ricky Francis Harter to 60 days in jail with 55 days suspended, court records show. Harter was ordered to serve two days in jail and the balance of the custodial term was converted to 24 hours on the sheriff's labor program.

Harter, 51, apologized and called the misconduct a "lapse in judgment," according to court documents.

Harter was charged with the misdemeanor earlier this year, although the offense dates back to September 2014.

Video surveillance captured images of Harter entering the home while naked from the waist down, according to a sheriff detective's affidavit.

Harter, the affidavit said, told the detective he was under the influence of alcohol and prescription drugs at the time and said he entered the home because he wanted to a masturbate in a stranger's house.

Harter's defense attorney, Chris Bugbee, clarified that his client had no memory of the incident and when pressed about his presence in the home by the detective, Harter speculated that he might have gone there for autoerotic purposes, court records indicate.

The homeowner, meanwhile, told the court that Harter's misconduct has drawn his family's safety and security at their vacation home into question. The homeowner said there was a strikingly similar break-in at the home before the incident, which led to the installation of the security camera.

Meulenberg called Harter's misconduct "serious" and ordered him to undergo alcohol abuse counseling. She also entered a no-contact order forbidding Harter from being on his neighbor's property.

Harter was also placed on probation for two years and ordered to perform community service.

Bugbee told the court that Harter would likely sell his vacation home in Laclede.