Charges may be filed in shooting incident

SANDPOINT — The Bonner County Sheriff's office is recommending misdemeanor charges be filed against a Priest River landowner accused of shooting at two bass fishermen earlier this month.

The case is being forwarded to the prosecutor's office with a recommendation that Chet Leeson be charged with exhibition of a deadly weapon, sheriff's officials announced on Monday.

Greg Edwards of Priest River and Thomas Duarte of Bonners Ferry told deputies they were fishing in a small cove on the Priest River when Leeson began shooting at them with a semiautomatic pistol.

There were no injuries. Duarte said one shot landed in the water behind the boat they were in and other shots were fired over their heads.

Duarte believes Leeson opened fire on Aug. 15 to scare them away even though they had a lawful right to be there. Duarte felt Leeson's conduct warranted a charge of felony assault.

Leeson denied firing at Edwards and Duarte, saying he was merely target shooting at the time.

"Bonner County residents are encouraged to remember that as a rule, with few exceptions, waterfront property below the high-water mark is public domain," Lt. Gary Johnston said in a news release.