Odom pleads guilty

By RALPH BARTHOLDT

Staff Writer

COEUR d’ALENE — As part of an agreement that would limit his prison term to 25 years behind bars, the man accused of shooting Coeur d’Alene pastor Tim Remington pleaded guilty Monday in First District Court.

If Judge Lansing L. Haynes accepts the plea agreement, Kyle A. Odom, 31, would be guaranteed not more than a 25-year prison term for charges of felony aggravated battery and a felony firearm enhancement.

According to the resolution, Odom’s attorney, Christopher Schwartz of the public defender’s office, and deputy prosecutor Rebecca Perez will each get a chance to argue for sentencing recommendations at Odom’s Sept. 26 sentencing.

If Haynes chooses to not accept the plea bargain, Odom can withdraw his guilty plea and renegotiate. Or, he could plead guilty and accept whatever sentence Haynes deems is appropriate.

Odom, a former Marine, pleaded guilty to shooting Remington six times March 6, 2016, in the parking lot of Remington’s church, The Altar in Coeur d’Alene on the 900 block of East Best Avenue. After the shooting, Odom fled to Washington, D.C., where he was arrested by security officers after throwing documents and computer flash drives over a fence onto the White House lawn. He was extradited and has been in the Kootenai County jail on a $500,000 bond.

According to a 30-page manifesto Odom sent to Idaho television stations, Odom thought he was being tormented by “hypersexual” mind-controlling Martians.

Odom, 31, told the court Monday he has been taking prescription medications to deal with mental issues, but can think clearly enough to enter a guilty plea to the felonies.

“It makes me a little cloudy, but I can still think clearly,” Odom said.

Haynes asked again if he was well enough to handle the stress associated with the proceedings.

“I want to make sure that you’re not overwhelmed by the stress and that you’re thinking clearly,” the judge said before recounting the charges and their penalties.

The penalty for aggravated battery with a weapon enhancement is up to 30 years in prison and a fine of $50,000.

Both attorneys will argue for their sentencing recommendations at the September hearing, which is expected to be prolonged.

Schwartz told the court he needed 90 minutes to argue his case and Perez said prosecutors will likely need an hour.

“I think this will be more lengthy than a regular sentencing hearing,” Schwartz told the court.

Odom appeared calm at Monday’s hearing, dressed in a red jailhouse jumper and wearing shackles. In December, a First District judge stopped future court proceedings until Odom received extensive mental health treatment from a state-run facility. Attorneys said Odom was impaired and not providing them with enough information to mount a legal defense.

Aside from a stint in a state hospital, Odom has been incarcerated at the Kootenai County jail for more than a year. He was originally charged with first-degree attempted murder. The charge was later amended.