Death penalty decision

COEUR d'ALENE — A 60-day clock started Wednesday for Kootenai County prosecutors who need to decide whether to seek the death penalty against Jonathan Renfro.

Renfro, charged with the murder of Coeur d'Alene Police Sgt. Greg Moore in May, was arraigned Wednesday in 1st District Court. A not-guilty plea to six felony charges was entered on his behalf by the court as he stood silent.

According to Idaho code, a death sentence can't be imposed unless prosecutors file written notice of their intent to seek that sentence no later than 60 days after a plea is entered.

Kootenai County Deputy Prosecutor David Robins said a decision hasn't been made on whether to seek the death penalty.

Renfro's public defender, John Adams, told Judge Lansing Haynes during the hearing that the defense early on sought to make a deal and plead guilty in exchange for a life sentence recommendation, but prosecutors declined the offer.

"We know the state is going to ask for death in this case," Adams said.

No trial date was set during the hearing, which was conducted at the Kootenai County jail where Renfro is being held.

The defense plans to ask for 12 months to file pre-trial motions.

Renfro, 27, of Rathdrum, has allegedly admitted to shooting Moore in the face on May 5 in a Coeur d'Alene neighborhood. Moore had stopped Renfro, who had been walking down a sidewalk in the middle of the night. Moore ran Renfro's information into the dispatch center right before the shooting.

Renfro is also accused of stealing Moore's gun and patrol car and fleeing at high speeds toward the Idaho-Washington state line, where he ditched the patrol car and fled on foot.

He was found hiding under a trailer parked near a Walmart Supercenter.