Trial ordered in intimidation case

SANDPOINT - A Washington state man has been ordered to stand trial for allegedly forcing his way into a Sandpoint woman's apartment and threatening her with a handgun to keep her from testifying in a pending drug case.

Robert James Sutton II is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and witness intimidation. Judge Justin Julian ruled on July 2 there was sufficient evidence to sustain the charges, setting the stage for Sutton's arraignment on July 21 in 1st District Court.

Sutton, a 25-year-old from Spokane Valley, is accused of busting through the door of a 28-year-old woman's downtown apartment on June 17 and pointing a cocked .45-caliber pistol at her face.

Charging papers identify the woman as a witness in a drug-dealing case pending against Michael Ray O'Neil, who is Sutton's uncle. O'Neil, 38, is charged with delivery of methamphetamine, which stemmed from a drug sting last month.

Leslie Rae Dorland, O'Neil's 32-year-old wife, was also snared in the sting. She's charged with meth possession, delivery and destruction of evidence, court records show.

O'Neil and Dorland are contemplating plea agreements which would dismiss or reduce some of the charges, according to court documents. Plea confirmation hearings are planned for the same day Sutton is arraigned.

During Sutton's preliminary hearing on Wednesday, the woman testified she let her pit bull out on the morning of the alleged home invasion and the dog ate something off the ground. The dog became violently ill and required emergency treatment, court testimony indicates.

Later in the day, she awoke to intruders busting their way into her place and threatening her. She identified Sutton as one of the assailants.

Although the woman testified under oath that she was not an informant, Det. Chris Higbee told the court she was. Higbee testified that the woman provided information which was substantiated through other means, records show.

Sutton's counsel accused the woman of perjuring herself on the stand and added that the defendant had an alibi. But Julian ruled the alibi was insufficient to show he was not present when the home invasion took place, court records said.