Bond reduction request denied for man accused of failed home invasion robbery

COEUR d’ALENE — A Hayden man who was arrested by a SWAT team, after allegedly breaking into a Coeur d’Alene home with an accomplice and injuring the residents, will remain in jail on a quarter million dollar bond.

Matthew J. McCoy, 31, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to three felonies including criminal conspiracy, two counts of battery with intent to commit serious injury, and burglary. The original charges of robbery, aggravated battery and injury to child were amended to the lesser felonies, and prosecutors at a Tuesday arraignment in Coeur d’Alene First District Court said a plea bargain would remain on the table until McCoy’s defense attorneys have a chance to review the indictment.

First District Judge John Mitchell scheduled a March 19 jury trial.

McCoy and his alleged accomplice, Jared R. Allen, 21, were arrested Dec. 1 after Post Falls police responded to a report of a fight at a residence in Post Falls.

The men allegedly entered the victims’ residence without permission and demanded money when a fight broke out. An adult and a 10-year-old who lived at the house were injured, according to authorities.

Police said neighbors heard the commotion and broke up the fight before McCoy and Allen fled the scene. The victims, including the child, received significant injuries and were treated at Kootenai Health.

“We’re talking pretty extensive injuries,” deputy prosecutor Art Verharen said. “I’m not sure he can hear out of one of his ears yet.”

McCoy and Allen suffered injuries as well including a black eye and a broken nose.

Allen, also of Hayden, was arrested shortly after the incident as he allegedly attempted to break into a nearby residence, according to police. He pleaded not guilty Dec. 13 to criminal conspiracy, two counts of battery with intent to commit serious injury, robbery and burglary, all felonies.

After tracking McCoy to a residence in the 9300 block of north Baack Street in Hayden, deputies surrounded the home, but McCoy failed to surrender. The Kootenai County Joint Agency SWAT team responded and McCoy was taken into custody by team members.

Mitchell agreed Tuesday to a motion by defense attorneys to allow McCoy to get an X-ray of his nose, which appeared broken, while he is incarcerated. Mitchell also allowed defense attorneys to send McCoy’s cellphone to be encrypted after sheriff’s detectives are through investigating it.

A request by defense attorney Linda Payne to reduce McCoy’s bond to $50,000 from $250,000 was denied.

Mitchell said McCoy’s criminal record, which dates back to 2003 and includes two bench warrants and two illegal driving convictions shows that McCoy has little regard for the law.

“(It) indicates to me the person really doesn’t care about the things he is ordered to do by a judge,” Mitchell said.