Booth pleads not guilty

COEUR d'ALENE — Justin Roy Booth pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in U.S. District Court Thursday for unlawful possession of a firearm.

Booth is accused of receiving a .38-caliber revolver Oct. 15 in exchange for two mopeds at his Hayden residence, a violation of his felony parole. Booth has prior convictions in Kootenai County, including robbery and burglary.

The 36-year-old was a roommate and apparent business partner of David Hutto, the man charged with the kidnapping and murder of William "Bo" Kirk. Booth's gun was found when authorities searched their home, located at 1319 E. Miles Ave.

Booth was taken into federal custody at Bonner County Jail the night of Oct. 27, the same evening Hutto was arrested at a Coeur d'Alene Burger King for Kirk's murder.

Court testimony confirmed Booth is connected to the case. In that testimony, Kootenai County Sheriff's detective Ken Lallatin said, Booth provided information about his and Hutto's involvement in Kirk's death.

Hutto, 44, is accused of kidnapping, binding and shooting Kirk, an X-ray technician, after Kirk left his shift at Northwest Specialty Hospital in Post Falls on Oct. 22. Kirk's body was found Oct. 25 near a shooting range in the Hayden Creek area of the Coeur d'Alene National Forest.

Hutto was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, arson and robbery. He recently pleaded not guilty by way of silence.

A trial date for Booth has been set for Jan. 17.