High court upholds PR man’s conviction

SANDPOINT — The Idaho Supreme Court upheld the conviction of a Priest River man on Feb. 23.

In the 2019 case, Keith William Rabidue was charged with attempted unlawful entry at the Priest River motel and unlawful entry of a nearby retired officer’s house.

Rabidue dodged law officers after attempting to gain entry to rooms at the Eagle’s Nest Motel. He later turned up naked at a home occupied by a retired law enforcement officer early on Aug. 22, 2019, according to court documents.

Law officers were summoned to the motel along U.S. 2 after Rabidue was going door to door and attempting to gain entry to rooms, court documents indicated.

Rabidue, 32, fled the scene and was tracked by officers for several hours. His mother was also brought to the area to see if she could coax him out of hiding, court records indicate.

Rabidue was found by a Priest River homeowner who was armed with a 40-caliber pistol. Rabidue was lying naked in a guest bedroom of the home, the affidavit said.

Rabidue appeared to be under the influence of a central nervous system stimulant, although the court documents do not specify a specific drug.

Rabidue was arrested while awaiting sentencing for a methamphetamine-fueled crime spree in April 2019 which saw him batter a Priest River Police officer and a sheriff’s deputy, in addition to burglarizing two homes and resisting arrest.

Two Bonner County Sheriff’s deputies attempted to apprehend Rabidue on April 20, 2019, but ultimately failed to do so after Rabidue pulled a sheriff’s deputy from room to room in his personal residence in Priest River before fleeing from law enforcement on Sixth Street in Priest River.

Seven charges were originally filed against Rabidue in relation to the event. However, charges of burglary, domestic battery, and destruction of a communication line were dropped in relation to this case on Sept. 27, 2019 as a part of a plea agreement.

As of Monday evening, there is no upcoming court appointment with Rabidue’s name in court documents, although one is expected to be filed in the coming days in First District Court.

In addition to the 2019 charges, Rabidue is also facing a probation violation charge. He has a criminal record dating back to 2008.