Murder suspect pleads not guilty

SANDPOINT — A Sagle man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to second-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Eli Holt in Sagle last fall.

James Matthew Anderson is tentatively scheduled to be tried in 1st District Court in May. If convicted, he faces a prison sentence of 10 years to life.

Anderson remains held at the Bonner County Jail with bail set at $500,000, although it could be reduced to $200,000 if a motion for a bail reduction is approved by the court.

The motion, which is being pursued jointly by the defense and the state, was taken up during Anderson’s arraignment, but a ruling was postponed.

Chief Public Defender Isabella Robertson said Anderson has lived in the area for about four years and he does not have a lengthy criminal record. She added that Anderson has been jailed since Thanksgiving and does not present a flight risk.

“There is evidence that this was an accident,” Robertson said of the shooting.

Prosecutor Louis Marshall was absent from the hearing because he’s attending an Idaho Prosecuting Attorneys Association conference out of town. Deputy Prosecutor Shane Greenbank told the court Marshall did not advise him of the state’s rationale for reduced bail.

Noting Anderson’s relatively short residency here and his prosecution in Texas for domestic violence, Senior District Judge James Michaud said he would not rule on the motion without a full hearing and the presence of Marshall.

“I’m not going to act on this motion without hearing from him,” said Michaud.

A hearing on the motion is scheduled for March 16.

Anderson, 29, is accused of shooting Holt with a .44-caliber handgun during an argument outside Anderson’s home on Nov. 27, 2008. Holt, 30, died of a gunshot wound to the head and the state sought a first-degree murder charge against Anderson, arguing that the killing was premeditated.

A lower court judge, however, ruled there was insufficient evidence to sustain that allegation and ordered Anderson to stand trial on the lesser charge. Anderson did not testify at his preliminary hearing, although he allegedly told a sheriff’s detective he meant to use the weapon to persuade Holt to leave and it suddenly discharged.