Rambo pleads not guilty to two felony charges

Tyler Rambo will remain in jail on $1 million bail, a Coeur d’Alene judge ruled Friday after a lively debate by attorneys, who argued that the 18-year-old was either a violent risk to others or an invalid who should be at home in his mother’s care.

Rambo pleaded not guilty to attempted second-degree murder and aggravated assault at Friday’s arraignment in First District Court. His lawyer asked Judge Cynthia K.C. Meyer to allow his client to be released into the care of his family.

Rambo’s medical issues, resulting from the amputation of his legs after he was shot by police July 4 in Coeur d’Alene, aren’t being properly handled in jail, defense attorney Rick Baughman said.

Rambo’s mother, Nicole Richey, concurred, telling the court her son has missed several medical appointments since being in jail, where staff is unable to attend to his condition.

Rambo was shot 14 times by police after he allegedly pointed a gun at officers in downtown Coeur d’Alene. Police said they chased Rambo after he attempted, moments earlier, to shoot another man, Jawaun Anderson, in City Park during the fireworks show.

Baughman said there was no reason for a high bail because Rambo was not a flight risk. He said Rambo’s family couldn’t afford the exorbitant bail amount.

“The facts for high bail are simply not there,” Baughman said.

Deputy prosecutor Jed Whitaker said Rambo was arrested not long after his legs were amputated, in a car with firearms and drugs.

Having one’s legs amputated, Whitaker said, “is about as traumatic event as you can have. Yet, immediately afterward, he is caught in a car with firearms, marijuana — modified firearms.”

One of the guns in the car had the barrel cut down, and the bullets police confiscated were hollow points used to inflict more damage than regular ammunition, he said.

Whitaker said Rambo’s criminal history goes back to 2011 when he was a juvenile and that the defendant spent years in the juvenile system.

“He’s been in court more than I have,” he said.

A March trial date was scheduled.