Knife-wielding teen's case sees additional felony added

COEUR d’ALENE — Sentencing for a Coeur d’Alene teenager who used a knife to rob a man in his house near Atlas Road was postponed because another charge is pending.

Andiubal Reyes-Batista, a non-U.S. citizen and Lake City High student, was supposed to be sentenced Friday for one felony count of willfully protecting a person who committed a felony, and disturbing the peace. While he was in jail, however, Reyes-Batista allegedly punched a window with his fist, breaking the glass.

The outburst resulted in another felony against the 17-year-old, which will require an arraignment as soon as charges are formally filed, and pushed back sentencing for 11 days.

The charge of damaging a jail carries a maximum fine of $10,000 and a prison sentence not to exceed five years.

Reyes-Batista was arrested for robbery in December along with four other Coeur d’Alene juveniles including Dylan Hoard, 17, Joshua Dykeman, 14, and Levi Grassi, 15. The teens allegedly walked into the house of an 18-year-old victim on the 2900 block of North Lodgepole Road, pressed a 12-inch, steak knife against the teenager’s neck and stole a red Air Jordan sweatshirt, two Air Jordan hats and a vape mod.

The victim said Hoard held his arms while Reyes-Batista held the blade of a “very long” knife against his neck. According to court documents, Dykeman yelled for Reyes-Batista to “stab him,” while Grassi “stood at the door and looked away.”

Grassi was sentenced last week to three years supervised probation and community service, and Reyes-Batista’s sentence was supposed to follow. After hearing of the latest charge, however, District Judge Cynthia K.C. Meyer prohibited the defendant from being released from jail as part of a plea agreement.

Attorneys said the latest charge against their client breaches the terms of the agreement that specified Reyes-Batista break no more laws.

Meyer wondered how the additional felony would affect Reyes-Batista’s standing with immigration services.

“The bigger concern, and this is assuming I hold the state to the Rule 11 (plea agreement) and I follow it, would be the commission of additional crimes that could affect immigration status,” Meyer said.

The judge told public defenders to meet with immigration attorneys. She asked prosecutors to file the latest felony so the arraignment can take place at the same time Reyes-Batista is sentenced for his part in the robbery.