12 indictments, 12 innocent pleas
SANDPOINT — Twelve people indicted by a Bonner County grand jury on a variety of offenses ranging from drug distribution to criminal gang recruitment entered not guilty pleas on Monday.
The pleas set the stage for multiple trials in 1st District Court early next year.
The following suspects ensnared in the expansive “Operation New Hight” investigation were arraigned:
- Ronald Lee Andersen, Jr. — three counts of delivery of a controlled substance;
- Jonathan Brandon Bates — one count of criminal gang recruitment;
- Dale Michael Champine — one count of grand theft by possession of stolen property and criminal gang recruitment;
- Robert Lynn Dell Daniels — six counts of delivery of a controlled substance, one county of grand theft by possession;
- Steven Grant Dehart — One count of possession and/or delivery of drug paraphernalia;
- Elizabeth Ann Goldberg — Two counts of delivery of a controlled substance;
- Matthew Harold Johnson — Two counts of delivery of a controlled substance;
- Daniel Jon Maddux — Two counts of delivery of a controlled substance;
- Karen Leann Medland — One count of delivery of a controlled substance;
- Nathan Charles Perez — One count of delivery of a controlled substance;
- Stormy Dawn Riech — One count of delivery of a controlled substance;
- James Ray Smith — One count of criminal gang recruitment.
The indictments resulted from grand jury proceedings this summer. The testimony that resulted in the charges will not be made public, although Deputy Prosecutor Shane Greenbank said the defendants’ counsel will have access to the grand jury transcripts in order to prepare for trial.
Most of the offenses resulted from undercover operations conducted by the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office in order to curtail criminal activity. The gang-related offenses stem from allegations that members of the Hermanos Motorcycle Club were actively seeking recruits in the community and trafficking in stolen motorbike parts.
Trials in the cases are set for February and March.