Judge rejects name change request
SANDPOINT — A Bonner County Magistrate Court Judge pointedly denied a name-change request sought by a Priest River man convicted of ritualized, sexual and physical abuse of his wife and children.
Dana Andrew Furtney petitioned for the name change while awaiting trial on 14 felony counts including lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor, ritualized abuse, injury to a child and domestic battery. A jury convicted Furtney on 13 of the counts following a three-day trial in 1st District Court that concluded last Thursday.
Furntey, 49, was accused of using his spiritual beliefs to abuse his family.
Furtney sought to change his name to Benaiah Joy Moses for spiritual reasons in response to a prophecy he received, in addition to messages he has received from God. Furtney explained in detail the significance of his children’s names and that of the name he wished to be called.
“They all reflect the birthday of Jesus’ spirit,” Furtney said during a hearing on Wednesday.
Benaiah refers to the Lord’s creations, while Moses refers to God’s ability to draw people away from peril and Joy is a backhanded reference to the pain and sorrow he is experiencing with the loss of his family and friends.
Furtney’s civil counsel, Sandpoint attorney Andra Nelson argued that her client’s request was strictly for spiritual reasons and was not an attempt to wall himself off from culpability in the criminal case.
“He is not intending to change his name to confuse or avoid the sentencing process,” Nelson said.
Bonner County Deputy Prosecutor Katie Murdock objected to the request because its muddying effect on the pending criminal proceedings. Furtney could, Murdock argued, use the name change as a shell game in the sentencing phase or as fodder for an appeal.
“It’s going to have the obvious effect of relieving him from having to register (as a sex offender) because the convictions on that verdict form are under the name of Andrew Dana Furtney,” Murdock added.
Judge Justin Julian said he has an abiding respect for religious freedoms protected under the First Amendment and also respects the views of those atheistic or agnostic beliefs. However, he candidly told Furtney that he would not have granted the name change even if no objections were lodged.
“It’s very clear to me that what you call religion is actually some evil sickness that led you to where you are today — convicted of 13 counts of very hideous and disturbing crimes,” Julian said.
”I’m simply not going to validate that and empower that by granting your name change, which, again, is just part of the continuation of your sickness that you’re misinterpreting as religion.”
Furtney, who remains jailed in lieu of a $500,0000 bail, is scheduled to be sentenced in May.
Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.