Bond reduction denied in first-degree murder case

A judge denied a request to reduce the million dollar bond for a Coeur d’Alene man who is in the Kootenai County jail facing a first-degree murder charge in the fatal shooting of Michael C. “Topher” Clark.

Scott M. White’s bond will remain at $1 million, Coeur d’Alene Judge Cynthia K.C. Meyer ruled Friday after accepting White’s not guilty plea in First District Court.

Defense attorney Doug Phelps asked to reduce the bond to $50,000 because White, who was born and raised in Spokane, has family in Coeur d’Alene, including a fiancee. White has a job in Coeur d’Alene, Phelps said, and he was in the process of purchasing a house here when the incident occurred.

At Friday’s hearing, deputy prosecutor Art Verharen asked that the charges be amended to add a weapons enhancement. Using a firearm while committing another crime can result in additional penalties, including longer sentences and fines.

White, 34, is accused of shooting Clark with several shots from a handgun Feb. 24 as he lay in the parking lot of a Hayden tavern following an after-midnight altercation. Clark was known to his friends as “Topher,” and was known locally for his role in a marijuana smuggling enterprise that was the focus of the 2014 movie “Kid Cannabis.”

Witnesses said White was drunk when he allegedly shot Clark, 45, around 1:30 a.m. Sunday in the parking lot of the Tipsy Pine tavern at 8166 N. Government Way.

White and Clark reportedly had an altercation inside the bar that spilled to the parking lot, where Clark was shot to death. Witnesses said the men fought on the ground and when White stood up, he shot Clark five times with a handgun he carried in a waistband holster.

After considering White’s criminal history including alcohol violations, Meyer kept the bond amount in place. She considered DUIs violent crimes, Meyer said.

“I think bond is reasonably set,” she said.