Bennett sentenced for murder near Hauser Lake

COEUR d’ALENE — The man who pleaded guilty to fatally shooting a Hauser resident last year may spend the rest of his life in prison.

Adam J. Bennett, 45, pleaded guilty earlier this year to the second-degree murder of 77-year-old Dennis Rogers. Bennett also pleaded guilty to aggravated battery, unlawful possession of a firearm and two counts of aggravated assault, all felonies.

Judge Susie Jensen sentenced Bennett on Friday to life in prison with 20 years fixed and credit for time served. That means Bennett will be eligible for parole when he is about 65 years old.

The prosecution and defense counsel recommended the sentence, having agreed upon it as part of a plea deal.

“The victims are still picking up the pieces from this horrible night,” said Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney Stanley Mortensen.

The charges stem from Feb. 28, 2022, when the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a structure fire and shooting with multiple victims in the area of Hauser Lake and Highway 53.

That night, police said Rogers had spotted an unidentified suspect setting fire to his barn. Rogers armed himself with a gun and went outside to investigate while his wife, Joanne, called 911.

The suspect, later identified as Bennett, reportedly overpowered Rogers, took the gun and shot him. Rogers died of his injuries at the scene.

Three of Rogers’ neighbors saw the fire and rushed to help, including John Hazell. In court Friday, Hazell described how he ran to where Rogers lay on the ground and discovered his neighbor was dead.

That was when Bennett, who was hiding near the barn, shot Hazell in the leg.

“You killed him for no reason and then you shot me for trying to help him,” Hazell said Friday, looking at Bennett.

Since the night of the shootings, Hazell said he’s received medical and psychiatric care “for wounds that will never fully heal.” Physical pain keeps him from activities he once shared with his wife and young daughter, while mental and emotional scars put a strain on family life. Hazell said he’s been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

“I never used to guess whether I would or should help someone in need,” he said. “Now I distrust my instincts and wonder if I could do something like that again. You chose to hurt people you don’t even know for no reason at all. You changed my life and my family’s lives forever.”

Jesse Reed, another neighbor who tried to help the Rogers that night, said the experience will stay with him for the rest of his life.

“There’s images and sounds that are never going to leave my head,” Reed said in court. “Never. There’s no way I can get rid of that. I can’t even drive down the road in my neighborhood past the house without having to go through what I saw.”

Hours before the shootings, a police officer for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway responded to a report of a trespasser walking alongside a freight train. The suspected trespasser, later identified as Bennett, was detained in handcuffs while police contacted dispatch to confirm whether Bennett had any active warrants.

Bennett was wanted on two unrelated warrants out of Washington County, Idaho, according to court documents. He was ultimately cited and released for the misdemeanor crime of stealing a ride on a train.

Reed expressed frustration that the shootings could have been prevented.

“They let him go and look what happened,” he said. “We have the chance to make sure this is never going to happen again.”

Before receiving his sentence, Bennett addressed the court. Though he said he doesn’t clearly remember the night of the shooting, he knows he killed Rogers and shot Hazell.

“I wish I could trade places,” he said. “This is something that didn’t need to happen, but it did and it’s my fault. I truly am sorry and I wish to take responsibility.”

Defense counsel said Bennett lives with severe mental illness that went untreated until last year, which contributed to his actions. Medical records indicate Bennett sought psychiatric help for years, but he wasn’t diagnosed with schizophrenia until after he killed Rogers.

In 2022, after the shootings, Bennett met with psychologist James Davidson, who observed symptoms of psychosis and later diagnosed Bennett with schizophrenia.

At that time, Bennet experienced hallucinations, seeing things that weren’t there and hearing voices that told him what to do. He had persistent delusions, such as the belief that TV programs were sending him secret messages and that nuclear bombs were hidden beneath Spokane.

After Davidson determined Bennett was not competent to stand trial, Bennett spent months in an Idaho Department of Corrections facility, where he received treatment for psychosis. With treatment and medication, Bennett’s symptoms have diminished and stabilized.

“This is an incredibly tragic situation, not just for the families that you affected, but for yours, as well,” Jensen said. “While the justice system may have failed in the past, I think many other systems have failed you, as well.”