Crash suspect to be sentenced

SANDPOINT — An abrupt change of course has been plotted in the case of a Cocolalla man who accidentally hit a Lake Pend Oreille School student at his bus stop in Sagle last year.

Counsel for Jason Dwight Newsome was poised to argued for evidence in the case to be suppressed and the felony charge dismissed, but those hearings have been vacated and supplanted by an entry-of-plea and sentencing hearing, which is set for May 5 in 1st District Court.

It’s not clear in available court documents if a plea agreement was reached to resolve the case against Newsome, who is charged with leaving the scene of an injury crash.

Newsome, 37, allegedly struck the 7-year-old with his pickup truck on the fog-shroudedmorning of Oct. 26, 2017. Newsome put the injured boy in his rig and delivered him to his family, but failed to disclose his name, provide proof of insurance or provide additional information as required by Idaho law.

Idaho State Police identified Newsome as the suspect after his wife called Bonner General Health and reported that she was behind the wheel in the collision, according to a police affidavit. Newsome ultimately confessed his involvement and was initially charged with a misdemeanor.

The offense was elevated to the felony level due to the boy’s injuries, which included a broken leg, according to court documents.

Newsome was bound over to stand trial following a preliminary hearing. He subsequently entered a not guilty plea and was scheduled to stand trial this summer. Newsome’s attorney, meanwhile, filed motions to suppress evidence and dismiss the case on grounds that Newsome’s prosecution at the misdemeanor and felony levels amounted to double jeopardy.