Witnesses cast new light on stabbing case

SANDPOINT - Witness statements are casting a different light on a beating and stabbing that occurred in Ponderay last month.

As a result, preliminary hearings for Adam Rew Carash and Timothy Grant “Bear” Larson remain on hold. Both suspects are charged with aggravated battery in connection with the Feb. 29 incident.

Carash, 27, was accused of pummeling and stabbing a 48-year-old man during a confrontation on Cedar Street. Larson, 29, was accused of joining in the attack. But Bonner County Prosecutor Phil Robinson said on Wednesday that witnesses have come forward stating that Larson was the one wielding the knife.

Robinson said there were as many as seven witnesses to the fracas, three of whom identified Larson as the person with the knife used to stab the victim.

Larson's court-appointed defense attorney, Dan Sheckler, declined to discuss the case after the hearing.

The victim in the case survived the attack. The weapon used in the incident has not been recovered and Robinson expressed doubt that it ever would be.

In other related developments on Wednesday, a third suspect accused of attempting to intimidate the victim into not seeking criminal charges against his alleged assailants had his case dismissed without prejudice.

Nicholas Julles Douglas went to the man's home after the attack and allegedly flashed a swastika tattoo and warned the man there would be consequences if Larson was imprisoned.

Douglas, also 27, reportedly told authorities the conversation was a colossal misunderstanding and that he went to the man's home as a show of support. Robinson said the victim has also called for Douglas' prosecution to cease.

Douglas is expected to testify as a state's witness in the cases against Larson and Carash. Douglas strolled out of court Wednesday wearing a t-shirt which read, “GOT INFO?”

It remained unclear Wednesday what provoked the confrontation on Cedar Street.

“Nothing in this case is clear,” Robinson said after Wednesday's hearings.