Lori Isenberg appears in district court

COEUR d’ALENE — If Laurcene “Lori” Isenberg is able to bond out of jail again, it will be more difficult for her to pull another disappearing act.

Isenberg, wearing red inmate clothing and shackled, appeared in First District Court Monday, where a judge set conditions on a $500,000 bond in place since she surrendered herself to authorities July 25, after being on the lam for more than two months.

Isenberg has been in custody at the Kootenai County Jail since she turned herself in.

Should Isenberg post bond, she will have to surrender her passport. She will be prohibited from leaving Kootenai County and will be monitored by an ankle bracelet with GPS tracking technology. Isenberg was arrested in February and charged with felony grand theft, stemming from allegations she embezzled more than a half million dollars from her former employer, the nonprofit North Idaho Housing Coalition.

She also is under investigation for her role in the death of her husband, Larry, but has not been charged.

Isenberg failed to appear for two arraignment hearings related to the grand theft charge before disappearing in May. A $500,000 bench warrant was set and bounty hunters looked for her until she surrendered herself.

Prosecuting Attorney Barry McHugh said his office asked for a $1 million bond in July, but it was set at $500,000 with no conditions.

His office requested the restrictions imposed Monday.

Kerri Thoreson, president of the board of the North Idaho Housing Coalition, was in court Monday for the hearing.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen her since January,” said Thoreson, who attended the two arraignments Isenberg failed to appear for.

Isenberg’s employment with the housing coalition was terminated Jan. 24.

She was also expected to be arraigned Monday and enter a plea, but her attorney, Jed Nixon, requested more time, since he is new to the case.

Isenberg’s arraignment was rescheduled for Oct. 29.