Hurt for hire

COEUR d'ALENE - John Kent Davis, 65, of Pocatello, Idaho, was indicted in Coeur d'Alene Tuesday on charges of interstate communication of a threat of bodily injury and stalking.

Davis is scheduled to be arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Larry M. Boyle in Pocatello. Davis was arrested in Pocatello on Aug. 17 on a federal complaint charging him with interstate communication of a threat.

He has been detained there pending the grand jury proceedings in Coeur d'Alene.

The indictment alleges that on July 29 and Aug. 3 the defendant used a form of interstate communication to try and hire someone to harm his ex-wife.

The individual the defendant allegedly hired was actually an undercover FBI agent.

Davis allegedly met with the undercover agent telephonically and in person and paid money to the undercover agent while directing the undercover agent to where his ex-wife lived in North Idaho, and telling him how badly he wanted her hurt.

The defendant was also charged with one count of stalking his ex-wife, from February 2015 until his arrest.

The case is being investigated by the FBI and the North Idaho Violent Crimes Task Force.

The maximum penalty, upon conviction, for charges of interstate communication of a threat of bodily injury and stalking is up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.