Thursday, March 28, 2024
37.0°F

Trial date set for ‘mastermind’ in alleged attack

by KAYE THORNBRUGH
Hagadone News Network | April 28, 2021 1:00 AM

HAYDEN — A man police called the “mastermind” behind an alleged beating pleaded not guilty on Friday to multiple felony charges.

Jordan L. Metzner, 20, is charged with aggravated battery, destruction of evidence, burglary and attempted robbery, all felonies.

A 17-year-old Spirit Lake resident was also arrested and charged with aggravated battery and robbery.

Police said the pair took a Rathdrum man to a wooded area, beat him and robbed him in February.

The Rathdrum resident contacted police the evening of Feb. 8 to report that he had been attacked. His face was bruised and bloodied, police said, with red marks on his neck.

He said a friend had invited him for a drive and picked him up in a truck, accompanied by a woman who was unknown to him. He brought his dog along for the ride.

After the truck stopped near the Hayden Creek shooting pit, the man said, two people dressed in black clothes climbed out of the truck bed.

One allegedly opened the passenger door and punched the Rathdrum man before pulling him out of the truck. He said the pair then beat him.

His dog allegedly jumped out of the truck and bit at the attackers.

He told police his attackers said he deserved the beating “because he had raped girls.” He said a group accused him last year of sexually assaulting an underage girl.

One of the attackers allegedly attempted to take the man’s wallet before fleeing into the woods.

The man’s phone, valued at $150, was allegedly missing when he got back in the truck.

His friend then drove him home.

Police found evidence of a struggle at the scene, including footprints and dog tracks, as well as blood on the ground that had frozen over, according to court documents.

Security footage reportedly showed that the driver and unidentified woman made contact with three people at a convenience store before they picked up the Rathdrum man.

One was identified as the Spirit Lake teen, while another was identified as Metzner.

The driver allegedly said the attack was planned. He told police he stopped at the convenience store so Metzner and the teen could hide in the truck bed.

He reportedly said the plan was to “rough (the victim) up” and make him admit to the alleged rapes.

Police detained Metzner, who reportedly said he planned and participated in the alleged attack, along with the driver and teen.

Metzner was arrested Feb. 12 and posted $50,000 bail in March.

During a preliminary hearing last month, a detective with the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office testified that Metzner described himself as the “mastermind” behind the attack.

Metzner allegedly said he took the man’s phone and threw it in a creek because he believed it contained child porn.

He also said he deleted conversations on his own phone discussing the incident, according to court documents.

A three-day jury trial in the case is scheduled to begin Aug. 3.