Man arrested for showing up to court drunk

SANDPOINT - A Bonner County man accused of discharging a firearm during a domestic dispute was arrested Wednesday for allegedly showing up to court drunk.

Anthony Wayne Johnson appeared to be under the influence at his preliminary hearing on the felony firearm violation and was made to submit to a blood alcohol test, bailiffs said. The breath test indicated Johnson had a blood alcohol content of 0.27, according to court documents. Johnson's BAC was more than three times the legal limit of 0.08.

Johnson explained to Judge Justin Julian that he had used Listerine before coming to court, but Julian did not buy the excuse. Julian, according to court hearing minutes, told Johnson he would

have had to consume “6 gallons” of the antiseptic mouthwash to register such a BAC and advised the defendant to “save that excuse for someone who wasn't born yesterday.”

Johnson was then placed under arrest and his bail was increased from $10,000 to $100,000, records show. His preliminary hearing was reset for June 11.

Johnson, 39, is accused of discharging a firearm in a home near the Pend Oreille River west of Seneacquoteen on May 18. Johnson, court documents allege, threatened to kill his estranged 32-year-old girlfriend. There were no injuries, although the children were present during the incident.