Trial pending in shooting case

SANDPOINT — A Priest River landowner accused of trying to scare off bass fisherman by shooting at them with a handgun is set to stand trial next month.

Chester F. Leeson contends he is innocent of the allegations. Leeson appeared at a pre-trial hearing on Friday. There is no resolution to the case, clearing the way for a trial in the magistrate division of 1st District Court.

Leeson's trial on a misdemeanor charge of exhibiting or using a deadly weapon is scheduled for Nov. 16.

There were no injuries in the Aug. 15 incident on Priest River.

Anglers Thomas Scott Duarte and Greg Steven Edwards told Bonner County Sheriff's deputies Leeson confronted them while they fished from a boat in a small channel branching off from the river.

Duarte, 28, reportedly told Leeson they were bass fishing and Leeson, 74, fired a shot from a semiautomatic pistol, which struck the water about 50 feet behind the boat. Edwards, 45, told a deputy Leeson fired at least two more shots into the air.

Duarte contends he was legally fishing in public waters. Leeson, according to Duarte, did not dispute the anglers' right to be there, but said Leeson added that he meant to frighten them into never returning to the spot.

Leeson denied making such a remark, a police report said.