Jail time for isolation violation

Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office issued 16 quarantine citations

At some point everyone left their home during the state-mandated quarantine. However, a group of Kootenai County teens faced the consequences for disobeying the ordinance.

On April 30, Wyatt Taylor, 20, and a group of juveniles went to a bonfire party near West Sturgeon and East Diagonal roads in Rathdrum. After receiving an anonymous report, Kootenai County Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene and issued Taylor and 15 other juveniles citations for violating the order of isolation or quarantine.

On July 6, Taylor, a Hayden resident, pleaded guilty to the violation and a previous marijuana paraphernalia charge, being the first instance of this sentencing in a Kootenai County magistrate court. Due to Taylor’s additional charge, his citation was taken more seriously than the juveniles.

Presiding Judge Rich Christensen sentenced Taylor to 32 days in jail for the violation, however, he was credited with the time he served earlier this spring. Taylor is now serving probation for two years on the drug charges and will complete track three drug court, according to court records.

“You are a young man and want to get on with your life. You can get back on track,” Christensen said. “I wish you well. Give your best effort to the drug court. You don’t want to keep showing up in court.”

According to Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, and Rathdrum police departments, only one other citation for violation of isolation and quarantine was issued this year, to a woman who hosted a yard sale in Rathdrum.