Arson hearing set for Wednesday

SANDPOINT — A preliminary hearing is being held Wednesday for a woman charged with the arson fire that destroyed the Army Surplus store July 4.

Jennifer Suzanne Meyer, 50, was charged earlier this month with setting the fire, after police said multiple surveillance videos from businesses near the Army Surplus building showed the woman in the vicinity and acting suspiciously.

Saying he found the state's request appropriate, Magistrate Judge Luke Hagelberg set a preliminary hearing for July 31 and set bond at $1 million on a charge of first-degree arson. The charge carries a sentence of up to 25 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.

At a preliminary hearing, a judge determines whether there is enough evidence for a defendant to stand trial.

During a search of Meyer's home, officers allegedly found a bag next to the front door containing personal documents, including her driver's license, birth certificate, college transcript and passport, $1,000 in cash, a gun and ammunition, and silver valued at an estimated $1,200.

Meyer refused to appear on camera at a video arraignment set up at the Bonner County Jail, forcing deputies to bring her to the courthouse for the hearing. Once at the courthouse, Meyer was unresponsive, placing her head on the defense table and refusing to speak throughout the 10-minute arraignment hearing.

The hearing was initially set for a video arraignment. However, after initially appearing in the room set aside for such hearings at the Bonner County Jail, Meyer got up and disappeared from view and could be heard objecting to appearing on video.

"I can't do this right now," she could be heard telling a bailiff as he directed her to sit in the chair and face the camera. "I can't do video responses. No, I can't do it. I'm sorry."

The exchange prompted Magistrate Judge Luke Hagelberg to ask the bailiff if someone could transport Meyer from the jail so the arraignment hearing could continue. Once she arrived at the courthouse, Meyer was led into the courtroom wearing a bright yellow inmate uniform, shackled at both the ankles and wrists, and her long, dark blonde hair loose about her shoulders.

Noting that she had responded to bailiffs at the jail, Hagelberg ruled the initial appearance hearing could continue, setting the state for Wednesday's preliminary hearing.

Meyer was identified as the suspect following a review of multiple hours of video of the fire at the Army Surplus store and an investigation by the Sandpoint Police Department, which spent several days sorting through tips, video surveillance, and canvassing the neighborhood for any leads.

Meyer was interviewed Tuesday by Sandpoint Police and subsequently taken into custody on a charge of first-degree arson.