Russell sentenced to life in prison

SANDPOINT — Saying it is the only way to protect society — and James D. Russell himself, First District Judge Barbara Buchanan him to a fixed life sentence on a second-degree murder charge in the death of a caretaker of the family's property in Clark Fork.

Russell was arrested on Sept. 10, 2021, in connection to the death of David Milton Flaget, 70, at the Russell family property on Lower Mosquito Creek Road. According to autopsy results, Flaget died due to blunt force trauma to his head.

James David Russell, 40, pled guilty to second-degree murder as part of a plea deal in exchange to the state dropping a first-degree murder charge. Russell also was charged with cannibalism, but saw that charge dropped in June and the murder charge was dropped to second degree on Nov. 15.

This is a developing story.