Accused seat slasher charged

SANDPOINT — A felony criminal charge is pending against a Bonner County man accused of slashing dozens of chair lift seat covers at Schweitzer Mountain Resort.

David Donald Markwardt is charged with malicious injury to property resulting in damages that exceed $1,000.

Markwardt, 62, made an initial appearance on Friday in Bonner County Magistrate Court, where he was formally advised of the charge against him. If convicted, Markwardt faces a one- to five-year prison sentence and a fine of up to $1,000.

Markwardt is free on his own recognizance while his case is pending, court records show.

Markwardt, who describes himself as a disabled Vietnam veteran, applied for the appointment of a public defender. Judge Debra Heise declined to appoint one because Markwardt is not indigent, court records show.

The criminal charge was filed in May, about a month after the resort filed a civil suit to recover damages and prohibit Markwardt from being anywhere on the resort except his two condominiums at the Selkirk Lodge and its parking garage.

The resort contends more than 60 seat covers were damaged by Markwardt, resulting in damages of nearly $9,000. The damages occurred over the course of the last two winter seasons.

Markwardt filed an answer and counterclaim in 1st District Court in which he denied damaging seat covers and accused the resort of retaliating against him for filing Americans with Disability Act complaints with several agencies.

Schweitzer President and CEO Tom Chasse has denied there is a vendetta against Markwardt and said the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development found the resort was in compliance.

Markwardt was identified as a suspect through video surveillance and lift ticket scans, according to reports compiled by the sheriff’s office. Markwardt disputes in civil filings that he was on the slopes on the days he’s accused of cutting into seat covers.

Markwardt, according to the sheriff’s reports, made no admissions of guilt when he was questioned, although he appeared open to paying restitution to avoid prosecution. An attorney for Markwardt asked for a reduction in restitution and a time extension to pay it, but the resort refused both requests, the sheriff’s reports said.

Markwardt said in court on Friday that the American Civil Liberties Union is contemplating taking up his case.

Another hearing in the criminal case is set for Aug. 16.