Eby sentenced on drug charge

SANDPOINT — A Bonners Ferry woman accused of perpetrating a bomb scare to forestall her sentencing in a felony drug case has learned her fate.

Robin Ann Eby was given a three- to six-year prison term in her drug case, but 1st District Judge Steve Verby retained jurisdiction.

That means she serve up to a year in prison before a decision is made to further incarcerate her or put her on probation.

Eby had no remarks for the court before the sentence was imposed on Nov. 9.

The hearing occurred four days after Eby’s original sentencing date.

Eby, according to Sandpoint Police, was trying to call The Daily Bee to warn of the bomb threat on Nov. 5, but accidentally called an assisted living facility and related the threat to officials there.

The idle threat forced the evacuation of the Bonner County Administration Building. There were no injuries during the evacuation.

Investigators quickly zeroed in on Eby as a suspect by examining phone records, court documents indicate. Eby allegedly admitted making the threat spontaneously, although officers couldn’t help but notice she had court on the day the threat was made.

Eby, 45, was charged with threatening the use of a weapon of mass destruction, a felony that’s punishable by up to life in prison. A preliminary hearing on the new charge is set for Wednesday.

Eby was charged with possession of methamphetamine after she was picked up on outstanding warrants in Ponderay in March.

Chief Deputy Prosecutor Shane Greenbank recommended a sentence of up to seven years with retained jurisdiction. Chief Public Defender Isabella Robertson recommended two to four years with retained jurisdiction and told Verby her client substance abuse and mental health issues.

Verby said it seemed a “period of enforced sobriety” was necessary, court records indicate.