Trial looms in angler shooting

SANDPOINT — A trial is looming for a Bonner County man who is awaiting trial for wounding a teenager who was fly fishing on Priest River last year.

Leo Michael Inwood’s trial on charges of evidence concealment and injuring another person by discharging an aimed firearm is set for Sept. 11. The former charge is a felony offense punishable by up to five years in prison, while the latter is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail.

Inwood, 43, and Eric Rampton Wood, 52, were accused of opening fire on two 13-year-olds from a distance in September 2017. The incoming rounds struck a motorized scooter the teens used to get to the fishing spot, according to court documents. When the teens attempted to ride off to safety, one of them was struck in the right leg and they ended crashing the Honda scooter, which was damaged by the gunfire.

Wood was originally charged with discharging a firearm at an occupied vehicle, unlawful possession of a firearm and felony malicious injury to property. He pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and an amended charge of injuring another by discharging an aimed firearm. A pretrial settlement agreement required him to testify as the state’s witness in the case against Inwood.

Wood testified at a preliminary hearing in Inwood’s case that they believed they were targeting a box top or sign that had been blown into to brush. Wood further testified that they were unaware there were teenagers standing nearby.

Wood is scheduled to be sentenced on October 16.

The state is recommending a two- to five-year prison term on the weapon-possession charge.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.