Stabbing suspect waives hearing

SANDPOINT — A Post Falls man accused of attempting to stab his estranged wife to death is waiving his right to a preliminary hearing.

James Leverne Carlton’s waiver amounts to tacit agreement that the state has enough evidence to justify trying him in 1st District Court. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Jan. 6, 2014.

Carlton, 60, remains held at the Bonner County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bail. He is charged with attempted murder and use of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony.

Carlton is accused of attacking the woman at her home north of Priest River and stabbing her in the chest and elsewhere on Sept. 30. The 61-year-old woman survived the attack and suspects that financial gain was partial motivation for the attempt on her life.

The alleged victim filed for divorce following the alleged attack and said civil court filings that he was the beneficiary of her retirement account, which is valued at more than $100,000.