Man facing burglary charge

PONDERAY — A price-switching scam could prove costly to a Sandpoint man.

Ezra L. Woods was charged with burglary after he allegedly used a price tag for a 24-cent Kool-Aid item to purchase a $99 vehicle jump starter kit at Walmart on Friday.

Woods was confronted and police confiscated a store gift card with the Kool-Aid price tag stuck to the back of it, according to a Ponderay Police affidavit. The store’s asset prevention specialist noted that the same price tag was used to pay for a $64 work light on July 2 and said additional transactions are being scrutinized.

Woods, 43, is charged with misdemeanor theft and burglary. The latter charge was brought because Woods allegedly entered the store intending to commit the theft. He made an initial appearance in Bonner County Magistrate Court on Monday via videoconferencing with the county jail.

Judge Lori Meulenberg ordered Woods held in lieu of $4,000 and appointed a public defender to represent him, court records indicate.

Burglary in Idaho is punishable by one to 10 years in prison.

Woods was also arrested on a Kootenai County warrant in a drug possession case.

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