Man accused of threatening, choking woman

SANDPOINT — A preliminary hearing is pending for a Kootenai man accused of kidnapping and threatening his estranged girlfriend.

Casey David Banks is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, second-degree kidnapping and possession of methamphetamine.

The felony charges stem from a Sept. 20 incident at Ponder Point on Lake Pend Oreille, court records indicate.

Banks, 35, is accused of choking the woman from behind with an arm bar and pointing a loaded handgun at her, threatening to shoot himself and her, according to a probable cause affidavit. The woman told a Bonner County sheriff’s deputy that she stayed the night because she did not believe she was free to leave, but later reported the episode to authorities.

Banks was arrested on Sept. 25 and a loaded syringe containing meth was allegedly discovered in his possession. Banks is barred from possessing a firearm due to 2004 meth possession conviction, court records indicate.

Judge Mark Bebee ordered Banks held in lieu of $125,000 bail and appointed a public defender to represent him. Banks was ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim while the case is pending, according to court documents.

A preliminary hearing to determine if there’s sufficient evidence to try him on the felony charges is set for Oct. 9 in Bonner County Magistrate Court.