Panel issues murder indictment

SANDPOINT — A Bonner County man indicted for the shooting death of Blas Salvadore Alonzo “Duke” Dias made an initial appearance in Bonner County Magistrate Court on Wednesday.

Judge Lori Meulenberg sustained Fabian Rebeterano’s $500,000 bail and scheduled his arraignment for March 11 in 1st District.

There is no preliminary hearing in the case because of the grand jury’s indictment, which remained sealed on Wednesday.

Rebeter-ano, who appeared in court via videoconferencing with the Bonner County Jail, politely answered Meulenberg’s questions regarding his rights during the brief hearing.

Coeur d’Alene attorney Robyn McPherson, who represented Rebeterano during the hearing, offered to give argument on a reduction in his bail, but Meulenberg declined to take that matter up as Rebeterano’s sum was set by District Judge Buchanan at the conclusion of grand jury proceedings on Monday. Meulenberg suggested bringing a motion for reduced bail once the case advances to district court.

Rebeterano, 40, was taken into custody on Tuesday, court records indicate.

The indictment, which was partially revealed in court on Wednesday, alleges Rebeterano shot and killed Dias with premeditation on Aug. 6, 2018. He’s further charged with unlawfully possessing a .22-caliber firearm due to a felony methamphetamine possession conviction in 2016.

If convicted of murder, Rebeterano could be put to death or receive a lifelong prison sentence, according to Idaho Code. The unlawful firearm possession charge is punishable by up to five years in prison.

The limited court documents that are available in the case do not shed any light on the slaying of Dias, who was killed at the threshold to his apartment at the Meandering Moose, a former motel that serves as longer term housing. Sandpoint Police said Dias was shot upon opening the door and the assailant fled on foot.

In the weeks leading up to the shooting, Dias was involved in an alleged battery at his apartment in which he was accused of choking and punching a 16-year-old girl. Now-sealed court documents involving the teen stated that she lived with Rebeterano at a residence east of Samuels. Blue Sky Broadcasting reported that the teen was Rebeterano’s daughter.

Ten days after the shooting, Sandpoint Police executed a search warrant on Namaste Path, the same road where the teen and Rebeterano lived, according to Bonner Dispatch and court records.

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