Bail reduction is denied in shooting case

SANDPOINT — Bail stands for a Bonner County teen accused of unleashing a shotgun blast on a carload of people last month.

First District Judge Steve Verby declined a defense request Thursday to reduce Larry Dean Flanigan Jr.’s $100,000 bail and release him onto his own recognizance, court records indicate.

Chief Public Defender Isabella Robertson argued for Flanigan’s release because he has extensive family ties to the community and lack of a significant criminal record. Bonner County Deputy Prosecutor Shane Greenbank objected to a reduced bail because of the seriousness of the offense and Flanigan’s uncooperative attitude with deputies investigating the shooting incident.

Greenbank called Flanigan “a danger” to the community, but Robertson countered that threats of violence were made against her client and the car containing the young men was backing up toward Flanigan’s mother and grandfather during the incident.

Flanigan, 19, is charged with two counts of felony battery and three counts of felony assault. The former charges cover two of the car’s occupants who were struck by pellets from the gunfire, while the latter charges cover the three other occupants who were in the line of fire but were not hit.

Sheriff’s officials said the two subject who were struck by pellets received serious, but not life-threatening, injuries. One of the alleged victims required surgery to remove pellets.

The shooting occurred on Dec. 6, 2011, near Flanigan’s home on East Mountainview Road north of Clark Fork. The gunfire followed a verbal altercation and a flurry of antagonistic text messages.

Flanigan pleaded not guilty to the five counts, setting the stage for a five-day trial in March.

Flanigan argued for new counsel during a hearing on Tuesday. He claimed he was not receiving adequate representation from Robertson, whom he accused of being biased toward the alleged victims.

Robertson denied Flanigan’s accusations and Verby ruled there was no showing that Flanigan was receiving ineffective assistance of counsel and ordered Robertson to remain on the case, court records show.