Judge sets bail at $100,000 for alleged shoplifter, cougher

An Oregon man who said he was sick with the coronavirus before police said he intentionally coughed on deputies during his arrest Wednesday in Hayden pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanors.

Public defenders filed not guilty pleas to charges of lying to police and petit theft for Mitchell A. Dante, 23, after an unruly courtroom appearance in which Dante interrupted a Coeur d’Alene magistrate, refused to give his name and denied the charges.

Dante is also charged with felonies including burglary and assaulting officers.

His Wednesday afternoon hearing was delayed until deputies could learn his real name. The next day, Dante opted against having a defense attorney speak for him.

“This is America and we have freedom of speech, so I’ll say what I want,” Dante told Judge Mayli Walsh.

Deputies said Dante didn’t pay for two 30-packs of Keystone Light that he carried out of Super 1 Foods in Hayden. He walked toward a waiting green car that sped off, leaving Dante behind.

He told deputies he was “sick as (heck),” and began coughing on them from a foot away, according to a report.

At Dante’s initial appearance, prosecutor Melissa McClure asked the court for $50,000 bail because Dante was a sex offender and flight risk with an extensive criminal history.

“He lied about who he is, he said he had COVID-19, he had a getaway driver, he started resisting and began intentionally coughing on deputies,” McClure said.

The next day Walsh set bail at $100,000 and accepted an amended complaint that included a name change.

“We are now on name three for the defendant,” the prosecutor said.

Walsh scheduled an April 10 probable cause hearing in which a judge will determine if there is enough evidence to bind over Dante on felony charges.

Deputies said Dante fought and berated them during the arrest.

“Dante continued to yell at us and call us ‘faggots,’” according to a report. “When I had my head (near) Dante … (he) leaned over and coughed multiple times on my face.”

Dante beat his head against a partition in a patrol car and deputies got him a safety helmet, according to a report.

He was tested at the jail for COVID-19 and placed in a safety cell.