Trial approaches for man accused of shooting wife

COEUR d’ALENE — A 74-year-old man accused of shooting his wife in the back will stand trial next month.

He has been held on $1 million bail since he was arrested in October 2020 and charged with aggravated battery and possession of a controlled substance, both felonies. He is also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.

The charges stem from Oct. 11, 2020, when police responded around 12:30 a.m. to a report of a domestic dispute involving a gun at a Fernan Hill residence.

First responders found a 65-year-old woman on the front porch. She had a gunshot wound in her abdomen, according to court documents, and indicated that her husband of 39 years had shot her.

The bullet entered the woman’s back and exited through the abdomen, police said.

The woman reportedly told police her husband had “stopped taking his medication” and had been carrying a handgun around the house for weeks.

She said she had locked the gun up out of concern, but her husband located it, became angry and shot her once in the back. He then reportedly called police.

The woman was transported to Kootenai Health, where she had surgery.

When searching the man for weapons, police allegedly found two cut straws with a white substance inside. The search also allegedly yielded a plastic baggie that contained a substance later identified as meth, according to court documents.

Judge Mayli Walsh ordered that the man be held on $1 million bail and issued a no contact order between the man and his wife.

Multiple requests to lower bond or release the man on his own recognizance have been denied.

The two-day jury trial is scheduled to begin April 13.

The Press is not naming the suspect at this time because that would reveal the identity of the victim. The Press tries to protect the privacy of victims.