Beating, robbery suspects convicted
COEUR d’ALENE — Two men accused of beating up a 10-year-old girl and her dad in a robbery attempt at a Post Falls trailer park were convicted this week in First District Court.
Matthew J. McCoy, 31, and Jared R. Allen, 21, could face up to life in prison for their part in a botched Dec. 1 robbery that left the girl and her dad seriously injured.
Jurors after a three-day trial that ended Wednesday in Coeur d’Alene found McCoy and Allen guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit robbery, which carries a maximum sentence of life behind bars, one count of battery with intent to commit a serious injury, which carries a maximum 20-year sentence, and burglary, which carries no more than 10 years in prison. McCoy was also found guilty of a second count of battery for attempting to strangle the girl and drag her down a hallway, resulting in burn marks on her back, according to court records.
The girl escaped by throwing a bowling pin through the trailer’s back window and alerting neighbors, according to testimony.
Post Falls Police responded to the call at the trailer park on the 1900 block of E. 12th Street before midnight after a witness reported a fight. The witnesses said the men entered the victims’ residence without permission demanding money.
The dad and his 10-year-old daughter testified they were watching movies in the living room when they heard the front door open. The father — who wasn’t identified to protect the child’s identity — checked on the noise and was struck by one of the assailants.
“They jumped him and beat the (heck) out of him,” deputy prosecutor Jed Whitaker said.
McCoy had been evicted from the residence, and told police later — after his arrest by a SWAT unit — that he was returning to the residence to check on his belongings.
One of the men told police however, that they had gone to the house for cash.
“They went to get money and when they wouldn’t give them money, they got into a fight,” Whitaker said.
Both men were intoxicated, police said, and Allen fled to a nearby residence, where he was arrested.
The father of the 10-year-old suffered two, black and blue ears — and ruptured eardrums — two black eyes and lacerations on his neck and chest. The girl suffered lacerations on her neck from an attempted strangulation, according to police, and a large burn mark on her back.
“It was a gnarly deal,” Whitaker said. He called eight witnesses at the trial including the dad and the 10-year-old. Defense attorneys Linda Payne and Jason Johnson called two witnesses, including McCoy.
A sentencing date is pending.