Renfro weighs guilty pleas
Jonathan Renfro, the Rathdrum man accused of killing Coeur d’Alene Police Sgt. Greg Moore, was stopped short Wednesday of pleading guilty to three felonies associated with the murder charge.
At a First District Court hearing Wednesday morning in Courtroom 12 of the Kootenai County jail, District Judge Lansing Haynes asked the 29-year-old defendant if he was prepared to plead guilty to charges of grand theft, eluding police and an enhancement that could boost the maximum penalties to life in prison.
In each case, Renfro, who was present with his defense team of four attorneys, said that he is ready to plead guilty to the charges.
“Yes, your honor,” Renfro said after Haynes announced each of the charges.
In a last-minute delay, deputy prosecutor David Robins reminded the court the state’s constitution requires notifiction be given to the victims before a plea-change, so they can be present in the courtroom.
Haynes agreed and reset the change-of-plea hearing for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, but the hearing was once again vacated as attorneys asked for more time to apprise Renfro of any repercussions a guilty plea to the three felonies could incur.
The change-of-plea hearing was rescheduled for 10 a.m. today.
In addition to the charge of first-degree murder, Renfro is accused of grand theft for allegedly having a stolen firearm at the time of the 2015 shooting that resulted in Moore’s death. Grand theft carries a maximum 14-year prison sentence. He is also charged with eluding a police officer, which carries a maximum sentence of five years behind bars. An additional charge of being a habitual offender can boost both sentences to life in prison.
The change-of-plea hearing came in the midst of a series of motions Wednesday by defense attorneys, including a motion to allow the defense team to peruse the pre-sentence reports of potential witnesses who are in prison.
Haynes over the past two weeks allowed prosecutors to have convicts transported from state correctional facilities to appear as state witnesses in the trial, which starts next week.
Haynes denied the motions to let defense attorneys pick through the pre-sentence reports, which include psychological evaluations that help judges determine sentences.
Defense counsel Jay Logsdon said he needed to see the PSIs to determine if any of the potential witnesses had talked to investigators about the Renfro case.
Statements made to presentence investigators about the case could be exculpatory and impeach the witnesses, Logsdon said.
“Basically, we’re looking for things that are going to reflect on the person’s credibility,” Logsdon said.
Haynes denied the motions to review the PSIs because, he said, it is already the prosecutor’s duty — according to court rules — to provide the defense team with any information that could help the defense.
Haynes also denied a motion by prosecutors to introduce as evidence a black facemask found in Renfro’s pocket on the night of his arrest. Prosecutors said the facemask alluded to Renfro’s plan to burglarize homes, but Haynes sided with defense attorneys who argued the facemask would prejudice a jury.
“A reasonable person may find it is evidence of bad intent,” Haynes said. “Or that it’s cold at night in Idaho in (early) May.”
Haynes and attorneys will continue throughout this week to review motions as they prepare for the trial that starts Monday with jury selection. Renfro is being held in the Kootenai County jail without bond.