Penkunis pleads not guilty to second-degree murder, other charges

COEUR d’ALENE — Four pleas of not guilty were entered in First District Court Tuesday for a 35-year-old, three-time felon and drug dealer accused of second-degree murder, leaving the scene of an unattended death and two counts of delivering methamphetamine in connection with the death of a 19-year-old Coeur d’Alene woman.

Larry B. Penkunis did not enter the pleas, opting instead to stand silent, which prompted District Judge Richard Christensen to enter the pleas on Penkunis’ behalf.

Penkunis, who was arrested last month not long after being released from prison on a seperate drug delivery charge, is in the Kootenai County Jail on a $250,000 bond.

Penkunis was indicted for his role in the death of Michaela Morton after she reportedly turned in Penkunis to police along with seven grams of his methamphetamine, just days before she was found dead.

When interviewed by authorities, Penkunis allegedly told police he had provided the meth to Morton that caused her death, and that “she died in his presence without (the defendant) having reported the death,” according to a police report.

Prosecutors on Tuesday amended charges against Penkunis to include two enhancements that can increase a sentence of the defendant by five years to life if he is found guilty of the original charges.

Deputy prosecutor Donna Gardner added the enhancements alleging Penkunis is a persistent violator. His previous felony convictions include a felony DUI, aggravated assault and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He had two parole violations and was convicted of arson.

Kootenai County Public Defender Anne Taylor asked the court to address bond reduction at a hearing next week. Taylor also asked for a stipulation that would allow her to inspect evidence and dictate how the evidence is handled.

Taylor said two syringes allegedly used to shoot methamphetamine may have DNA evidence that could shed light on the case.

She told the court her client wouldn’t waive his speedy trial rights, which means a trial would have to start within six months of Penkunis’ March 27 arrest. The trial, Christensen said, would be set on the July calendar.

Morton was found dead and wrapped in a blanket on the concrete floor in the basement of her family’s Cougar Gulch home when the rest of the family was gone for the weekend. Police originally said Morton died of a drug overdose. Penkunis was arrested and sent to prison on a drug change shortly after Morton’s death. He was released in December.