IDAHO FALLS – A large contingent of police are investigating a “suspicious death” in a commercial area of Idaho Falls.

Over a dozen officers responded to an area on Wardell Street at about 12:30 p.m. Friday, according to Idaho Falls Police Department spokeswoman Jessica Clements.

The area in question is between the UPS Customer Center and the Super 8 Hotel. Police have surrounded the area with police tape.

Very little information has been released about the situation. Clements confirmed a suspicious death but offered no other information. She did say there is currently no danger to the public.

At around 5:30 p.m., a white camping trailer was seen being hauled away from the scene on Wardell Street by police and Eaton Towing.

The significance of the trailer is unclear. It’s also unknown if there are any suspects in this case.

EastIdahoNews.com will update this article as soon as we learn more.

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IDAHO FALLS – A 39-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday after investigators reportedly found him in possession of over 300 videos and images of child pornography.

Chase Philip Hornaday was charged with five counts of distribution of sexually exploitative material and five counts of possession of sexually exploitative material.

According to a report written by a Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office detective, who is also on the Idaho Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, he was assigned a cyber tip on Nov. 27 regarding images of child sexual abuse material uploaded through Kik, a mobile messaging app.

The detective states that nine videos were uploaded 41 times. They reportedly showed children between the approximate ages of 4 and 15 being raped and engaging in sexual activity.

Investigators were able to track the IP address to a home in Ammon and connect the Kik account user information to Hornaday’s phone number.

Detectives conducted surveillance on Hornaday for multiple days, where they discovered he works at the Idaho Falls Regional Airport. Through the Federal Aviation Administration, they reportedly learned Hornaday is a contractor for them.

The detective filed a search warrant for the rest of the Kik account and received the remaining data on Dec. 12.

According to the detective’s report, there were ten more videos, one that was the same as in the original findings, showing children between the ages of “less than 4 months old” and 14 years old being raped and engaging in sexual activity.

The detective ultimately found “over 60 images and videos of CSAM in Hornaday’s Kik account that depicted child and infant rape, molestation and sexual abuse.”

Reports also state detectives found over 20 images and videos of Hornaday and a woman “engaging in sexual conduct” in the air traffic control tower at the Idaho Falls Regional Airport.

City of Idaho Falls Public Information Officer Eric Grossarth says the city is aware of the allegations and is working with law enforcement.

“The individual arrested was not an employee of the Idaho Falls Regional Airport but rather a federal contractor who operates the local air traffic control tower,” says Grossarth. “The city takes any allegations like this seriously and will fully cooperate with law enforcement.”

Kik also provided the detective with recent chat messages between Hornaday and other users during November and December. In one message, Hornaday reportedly insinuates that he is going to convince a woman to steal her daughter’s underwear.

“She has a 17-year-old daughter…maybe I could get her to steal a dirty pair of her panties.”

Additionally, Hornaday reportedly talked with users about trading “pedo” images and videos of “yng.” According to court documents, “yng” is a term used when talking about child sexually exploitative material, meaning “young.”

Hornaday was stopped by a Bonneville County Sheriff’s deputy Wednesday in a parking lot of East 17th Street. He was taken to the Bonneville County Ammon Field Office, where he requested a lawyer and declined to talk with investigators.

He was then taken into custody and booked into the Bonneville County Jail.

That afternoon, detectives say they listened to multiple jail calls between Hornaday and a relative.

The relative reportedly asked Hornaday, “What was going on with you?” to which he replied, “I’ve been in pain a long time, I’ve tried to numb it, I’ve done bad things.”

The relative later said they didn’t understand, and Hornaday reportedly stated, “I didn’t want to do drugs, and this was another way to numb my pain.”

The relative told Hornaday he “should have done drugs,” to which he replied, “I should have done drugs.”

Court documents state the relative told him he was “a pedophile now” and the call cut out as time ran out.

Seven minutes later, there was another call between the two, where the relative again asks Hornaday, “why?”

Hornaday reportedly responded, “Because it helps numb the pain of anything.” The relative asked, “How did looking at naked pictures of children help?” And Hornaday responded, “That’s the conversation we can have later I don’t have much time.”

Another six minutes later, the relative asks how long it has been going on, and he responds, “Maybe a year.”

When asked how old the kids in the images are, Hornaday reportedly states “5-18.”

He then reportedly told the relative, “I can tell you more about it if you ever want to talk to me again and try to come to an understanding of why I did it because I don’t fully understand other than I slowly found it and it was shocking enough to numb the pain of every other thing that was hurting.”

Hornaday also stated, “I’ve never touched a child, I’ve never looked at a child in person, I’ve never wanted to do anything, I’ve never touched anybody.”

Detectives seized 13 devices from Hornaday, including a Samsung cell phone. On the cell phone, investigators reportedly found over 300 images of child pornography.

Hornaday was booked with a bond of $250,000 and is expected to appear for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 24.

If convicted, he could face up to life in prison.

Though Hornaday has been charged with these crimes, it does not necessarily mean he committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until they are proven guilty.

Anyone with information regarding the exploitation of children is encouraged to contact local police, the Attorney General’s ICAC Unit at (208) 947-8700, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.

Parents, educators, and law enforcement officials can find more information and helpful resources at the ICAC website, ICACIdaho.org.

The post Man arrested for child porn also allegedly filmed himself having sex in Idaho Falls Airport tower appeared first on East Idaho News.

IDAHO FALLS – Idaho State Police is making sure you know what to do to stay safe during the potential for an extreme blizzard on Thursday and Friday.

ISP is partnering with local law enforcement agencies and the Idaho Department of Transportation to ensure they are out in “full force” during the storm that could create extremely dangerous road conditions.

“This one has a big word in it, and it’s called blizzard,” says Capt. Chris Weadick with the Idaho State Police. “We usually don’t usually get blizzard warnings, so this one is on our radar.”

Weadick says the most important thing to do is decide if you really need to be driving during the storm or not.

RELATED | Blizzard coming to eastern Idaho Thursday night; drivers asked to not travel

“During this storm, one of the biggest things is travel. Ask yourself if you really need to be traveling out in the weather during this period of time,” says Weadick. “If you don’t, limit your travel, reduce your travel, or just simply stay home. Stay off the roadways.”

If you decide you need to travel, remember the roads are slick, the wind is fast, and there are more people on the road than just you.

“A lot of people have been comfortable for the last month or two having nice dry roads, and they have forgotten winter driving habits,” says Weadick. “Slow down, don’t follow so close, and wear seatbelts. We still see a lot of crashes with drivers that aren’t wearing their seatbelts. A lot of that type of stuff is very preventable.”

According to Weadick, the biggest threat with the blizzard will be the wind as the National Weather Service is estimating that Idaho Falls could see winds gusting as high as 55 mph.

“We’re expecting extremely high winds. If we get a couple of inches of snow with 50 mph winds, you’ve got significant drifting issues,” says Weadick. “We could still have significant snow accumulations, but really, the wind is going to be a very big concern.”

All of local law enforcement and the Idaho Transportation Department will be deploying everyone available to make sure the roads are clear and people are as safe as possible during the storm.

“The Idaho Transportation Department is going to be out in full force, trying to keep the roadways clear,” says Weadick. “It is going to be all hands on deck for the Idaho State Police, here in the Idaho Falls area. We are pretty much going to have every trooper available in our ranks working.”

Weadick says local law enforcement will also be patrolling more remote areas and long stretches of road to ensure drivers are using caution.

“The other law enforcement agencies are out doing the same thing. We’ve got a lot of remote highways, a lot of long stretches of road, everybody is going to be out trying to provide the best travel safe roadways out here,” says Weadick. “We’re committed to being out in full force, and trying to help the motoring public.”

The post Do you really have to travel? How you can stay safe on the road during the blizzard appeared first on East Idaho News.

IDAHO FALLS – A Wyoming man was arrested Thursday in Idaho Falls after allegedly stealing equipment from a construction company.

Ramon Jobany Miranda, 39, was charged with felony grand theft by receiving, possessing or disposing of stolen property.

On Thursday, an Idaho Falls Police officer was assigned to help the Teton County Wyoming Sheriff’s Office with a reported case of theft.

According to court documents, a Teton County Sheriff’s deputy told the officer a construction site in Jackson, Wyoming, was missing a roof seamer, a machine used to seam metal roof panels.

The officer called a manufacturer to understand better what he was looking for; a customer service representative told him they rented the machines out and put tracking devices inside the storage cases.

The tracking device showed the machine was at 3112 South Pioneer Lane in Idaho Falls.

The officer went to the address and found two men standing near two pickup trucks belonging to Platinum Roofing out of Wyoming.

Police reports say the officer began to ask them “random roofing questions,” and both men stated they worked for Platinum Roofing.

One of the men asked the officer why was asking the questions, to which the officer responded he was investigating stolen construction equipment out of Jackson.

The officer asked the man for his identification, and initially, he “did not comply,” according to police reports. The officer says he could “tell (the man) was nervous, and he said I could have his ID but not his, and pointed to the other person.”

The man then told the officer he spoke to a cop from Jackson the night before, and he had come to Idaho Falls this morning before planning to head to Utah for a job.

When asked what kind of job they were doing in Utah, the man said it was a metal roof.

The officer then requested another officer to come out as he stated, “This was potentially going to turn into a lengthy investigation.”

Another male exited a nearby apartment and said he was the supervisor of the two men the officer was speaking with. According to the officer, the man’s ID stated he was from California.

The officer took the supervisor to the side, and the supervisor admitted the company that was missing the machine “owes him $40,000 for work.”

The supervisor was reportedly “adamant” they didn’t have the machine and said police could search his vehicle and apartment.

The officer reportedly told the supervisor if they cooperated and returned the machine, he wouldn’t take anyone to jail. The supervisor again stated they didn’t have it.

The second officer arrived, and the two called TCSO to tell them what happened.

According to the officer in reports, “something wasn’t sitting right,” so they decided to look through the parking lot for cars with Wyoming or California license plates.

An officer found a blue GMC pickup with Wyoming license plates. When they ran the license plate, it returned to a black Lexus.

According to court documents, there was a small amount of fresh snow on the ground around the pickup, showing one set of shoe prints leading from the door of the building to the rear of the pickup and then to the asphalt parking lot.

The officer looked in the rear window of the bed topper and saw a case that matched the description of the missing machine.

At the same time, the two employees came out of the apartment building and were called over by the officers. Police reports state the men “appeared nervous.”

When asked who the pickup belonged to, both men denied owning it. One of the men then identified himself as Miranda.

Officers asked again who owned the pickup and stated that the machine was in the back. Miranda and the other man still denied owning it.

An officer then looked at Miranda’s shoes and the tread pattern in the snow, saying they were an “exact match.”

Miranda denied the shoe prints were his, and officers asked him to open the back of the pickup.

He reportedly opened the topper door and tailgate on the back of the pickup, and an officer opened the case and saw the missing machine inside.

The men’s supervisor then arrived and told officers his attorney was on the phone. An officer asked why the attorney was on the phone, and the man reportedly replied, “Because the police lie.”

Miranda again denied having anything to do with the pickup. The officer then called TCSO, who asked that the officer take him into custody and tow the pickup.

Miranda was then taken into custody, and the two other men were released. During a search of his belongings, a set of GMC car keys were reportedly found in his right pocket.

Miranda was booked into the Bonneville County Jail with a bond of $30,000.

He is expected to appear for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 19. If convicted, he could face up to 14 years in prison.

Though Miranda has been charged with these crimes, it does not necessarily mean he committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until they are proven guilty.

The post Wyoming construction worker arrested after stolen equipment was reportedly found in his pickup appeared first on East Idaho News.

RIGBY – A drink stop in Rigby is serving delicious beverages year-round to quench your thirst and your sweet tooth, no matter the temperature.

Cup O’Bliss, owned and operated by Jessica Carson, is offering tasty coffee, tea, smoothies, hot chocolate and more.

“I started actually in 2017, on the weekend of the eclipse,” says Carson. “It was absolutely amazing, and I think it was good luck.”

EastIdahoNews.com was lucky enough to try some of the business’s most popular drinks, starting with the French Bliss coffee, the first custom beverage at Cup O’Bliss.

The French Bliss tastes of warm vanilla and possibly a bit of cinnamon. Carson puts it perfectly – it tastes like French toast.

Next, I tried a colder, maybe more summery drink for the hotter days, the iced spiced vanilla chai with oat milk.

For those who prefer milk alternatives, Cup O’Bliss is a great option to stop by for a drink, as there are many possibilities and variations that taste great across the menu.

“We base everything on organic espresso, all-natural syrups, and quality Ghirardelli chocolates,” Carson says. “We’ve broken into teas a little bit, too, chai teas and things like that.”

Lastly, I tried the Lacoco Berry Frappuccino, a coffee-based drink with white chocolate lavender, coconut and blackberry.

This one is truly a masterpiece. The flavors work so well together, and I can already see myself ordering this blended drink even when it’s snowing outside.

“It’s a really good way to break people into unfamiliar flavors that might be a little scary,” says Carson. “It’s not overpowering and they’re always surprised that they love it.”

Make sure to stop by Cup O’Bliss right next to U.S. Highway 20, off exit 325, the Menan/Robert’s exit. It’s address is 659 North Yellowstone Highway in Rigby.

Also, make sure to try their beverages soon inside Teton Bagel Co. in Rexburg.

Don’t forget to follow Cup O’Bliss on Facebook and Instagram.

The post Cup O’Bliss offering delicious drinks to keep you warm during the cold winter months appeared first on East Idaho News.

IDAHO FALLS — Police say a local woman is under investigation for driving under the influence, forcing a tractor off the road and injuring its driver.

Marjorie Kathryn Bare, 27, was charged with felony DUI causing great bodily harm, permanent disability or disfigurement and felony possession of a controlled substance.

On Aug. 29, around 5 p.m., an Idaho State Police trooper was dispatched to a crash with injuries on US Highway 91 near milepost 121, according to court documents.

According to ISP Lt. Marvin Crane, the driver, identified as Bare, was driving north in a 2021 Hyundai Kona and crossed over the roadway, hitting a tractor that was traveling south on the shoulder. The driver of the tractor was transported to a local hospital by an Idaho Falls ambulance.

On the scene, the trooper learned Bare had “possibly stuffed something into her pants.”

When the trooper arrived, she noticed the Hyundai and tractor on the shoulder of the road with “severe damage.”

Idaho Falls Ambulance personnel, two Idaho State Police Corporals, and another ISP trooper were also on the scene.

According to court documents, Bare was sitting in the ambulance with one of the corporals who was telling her she needed to “be honest” and remove the items she allegedly put in her pants.

Bare responded that it was “just had some old foils.” She then took the items out, which reportedly included a cosmetic bag with multiple burnt foils, two burnt pens, several lighters, and “other miscellaneous tools.”

Police reports state she then began “crushing the burnt foils together, in what appeared to be an attempt to crush any remaining substance or evidence inside.” The trooper told her to stop and then allegedly saw Bare try to grab one of the pens back and put it back in her pants.

Bare refused medical transport and “appeared to have issues remembering details from the crash and following instructions.”

According to court documents, Bare was told multiple times to sit down, and at one point, got up and began walking toward the crashed tractor “in a state of panic.”

RELATED | Share the road: Farmer drives combine into ditch when oncoming vehicle doesn’t move over

She reportedly told troopers a piece of crash debris was the driver of the tractor and that he was “still laying there.”

Bare’s supervisor from Subway, where she reportedly worked, came to the scene and told troopers Bare had been working her shift and then took an “abnormally long time in the restroom.”

The supervisor said when she came out, she “began exhibiting odd behavior and was speaking to (the supervisor) about conversations he stated they never had.”

He told troopers she had begun struggling with the basic duties of her job and that a customer had alerted him that there was a pipe in the bathroom.

The supervisor asked Bare if it was hers, and she reportedly denied knowing anything about it.

The supervisor threw the pipe away but later reviewed security footage where he reportedly saw Bare take the pipe out of the trash and keep it.

After being shown a photo of the pipe from the supervisor, troopers say it looked like one of the pens that was found in Bare’s pants.

Bare was then taken to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center by ISP for a jail clearance. There, troopers learned she was also on felony probation.

According to troopers, Bare seemed to be “nodding off” and had to be told numerous times not to leave the hospital, and reminded why she was there.

Bare reportedly kept falling asleep while talking and stated, “I thought he was going straight but he just pulled right out.”

Troopers were able to search Bare’s handbag, where they reportedly found a single yellow-colored pill that Bare said was “most likely Xanax.”

Due to the injuries she sustained from the crash, troopers were unable to obtain a medical clearance for Bare. She was then cited and released from police custody.

While processing evidence, troopers found a blue circular pill inside one of Bare’s foils, which later tested positive for fentanyl.

The trooper later met with the victim of the crash, who said he sustained a broken tibia, two broken ribs, and damage to his vertebrae. He reportedly spent 17 days in the hospital and now requires the use of crutches or a walker.

According to police reports, the victim did not require any assistance before the crash and was “extremely active.”

A warrant was issued for Bare’s arrest on Dec. 28, and she was booked into the Bonneville County Jail that same day with a bond of $20,000. She later posted bail and was released on Dec. 31.

She is expected to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 17. If convicted, she could face up to 22 years in prison.

Though Bare has been charged with these crimes, it does not necessarily mean she committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until they are proven guilty.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article included a mugshot of the wrong inmate. It was replaced when we received the correct image from the jail. EastIdahoNews.com apologizes for the error.

The post Local woman charged with DUI after allegedly running tractor off the road and causing serious injuries appeared first on East Idaho News.

BLAINE COUNTY – A man is dead following a collision between a train and a semi-truck on Friday.

The Bannock County Coroner’s Office has identified the man as 46-year-old Efrain Juarez-Ramirez of Rupert.

According to a news release from the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office, the crash happened around 2:32 p.m. on Dec. 29.

Investigators determined a 2015 white Freightliner semi-truck, owned by the 3 String Cattle Company, was being driven by Juarez-Ramirez with a 48-year-old female passenger.

The semi-truck was traveling southbound on Yale Road and failed to yield to the oncoming train at the crossing.

The Union Pacific train was traveling east and struck the passenger side of the semi-truck. Neither occupant of the truck was wearing a seatbelt, and both were ejected.

They were each taken by air ambulance to Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello with life-threatening injuries.

Juarez-Ramirez died from his injuries at the hospital. The passenger is listed in critical condition. No one on the train reported any injuries.

“The Blaine County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Minidoka County Sheriff’s Office, Northside and East End Fire Departments’ Emergency Medical Services, Life Flight and Classic Air Ambulances, and Minidoka Memorial Hospital Emergency Response Services for their assistance in this incident,” states the release. “Although it occurred in Blaine County’s jurisdiction, due to the remote location and critical need for an immediate response, Minidoka County agencies took the lead on the crash and investigation. We are extremely grateful for their interagency cooperation.”

The post Man dead after train strikes semi-truck in Blaine County appeared first on East Idaho News.

BLACKFOOT – Two Blackfoot locals were arrested on Friday after allegedly evading police and pointing a gun toward an officer and their ride-along passenger.

Jessyka Kelly Rose Goodrider, 21, was charged with two counts of felony assault or battery upon certain personnel, felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, felony destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence, felony possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanor use or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia, misdemeanor resisting or obstructing officers and a felony enhancement for the use of a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony.

Antonio Ray Sesma-Lopez, 23, was charged with felony fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer in a motor vehicle, felony possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanor resisting or obstructing officers and misdemeanor consuming or possessing an open containing by a driver.

RELATED | Friday night car chase in Bingham County results in two arrests

According to court documents, an officer with the Blackfoot Police Department was working patrol when he saw a black 2008 Chevrolet Impala traveling next to him, westbound on West Bridge Street.

The officer noticed the car had an expired registration and that the registration was suspended for having no insurance.

When looking into the registration, the officer also learned that it should be connected to a black 2006 Chrysler 300C, not a Chevrolet Impala.

The officer got behind the car and activated his police lights. The car turned west on West Bridge Street and came to a stop.

As the officer began approaching the car, the driver suddenly sped away, heading toward the intersection of Highway 39 and West Bridge Street.

The car turned west onto Highway 39. Multiple Bingham County Sheriff’s deputies, along with the officer, chased the car down the highway. According to police reports, speeds reached up to 100 mph.

In the police report, the officer states that he had his significant other in the passenger seat for a ride-along during this incident.

During the high-speed chase, the officer says he “noticed a passenger stick their arm out of the passenger side window” and point a black handgun at the police car.

According to the officer, his significant other ducked underneath the engine block from the passenger seat to take cover from the gun.

The officer then decided to pull off to the side of the road and allow a Bingham County Sheriff’s deputy to take the lead “due to the circumstances of the pursuit and the safety concern for (the officer’s) passenger.”

The officer followed behind the deputies and continued to chase the car.

A deputy reported that the car’s occupants were throwing items out of the car near 1100 West 300 South. The officer stopped in the area to look for evidence that might have been thrown from the car but did not find anything.

The officer then rejoined the chase until it ended after a spike-strip deployment and PIT maneuver by Bingham County Sheriff’s deputies.

According to court documents, both occupants of the car ran from the scene, which led to officers and deputies deploying tasers, ending in the suspects, later identified as Goodrider and Sesma-Lopez, being arrested.

Police reports state that Goodrider was “in and out of consciousness shortly after being placed into custody.” Law enforcement gave her “several doses” of Narcan, a drug to reverse opioid overdoses.

Later, she reportedly admitted to swallowing methamphetamine before the police chase ended.

The officer later returned to the area where the occupants reportedly threw items out of their car and found “several twisted tea cans” and “numerous cans of alcohol.”

During a search of Sesma-Lopez, deputies reportedly found a meth pipe on him and also identified him as the driver. Deputies also found a “large amount of cash.”

While searching the car, law enforcement reportedly found a broken glass pipe, a purse, various items of drug paraphernalia, a plastic makeup bag containing a large amount of a white substance and several containers of alcohol.

Officers attempted to contact the vehicle’s registered owner but were unsuccessful at that time.

Both Goodrider and Sesma-Lopez were taken to Bingham Memorial Hospital and medically cleared before being transported to the Bingham County Jail.

Goodrider was booked on a bond of $50,000 and is expected to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 11.

If convicted, she could face up to 39 years in prison.

Sesma-Lopez was booked on a bond of $100,000 and is expected to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 11.

If convicted, he could face up to 13 and a half years in prison.

Though Goodrider and Sesma-Lopez have been charged with these crimes, it does not necessarily mean they committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until they are proven guilty

The post Blackfoot locals arrested after allegedly pointing gun at officer during high-speed chase appeared first on East Idaho News.

IDAHO FALLS – A 25-year-old man was sentenced on Tuesday for his role in a 2022 shootout near The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple in Idaho Falls.

District Judge Michael Whyte sentenced Frederick Marshall Free for the felony charge to three to six years in prison. Whyte then suspended the sentence and placed Free on probation for four years.

Free will also be required to complete 100 hours of community service, spend 60 days in local jail with credit for six days of time served, and pay $1,000 in court costs and fines.

RELATED | Man pleads guilty to shooting man near Idaho Falls Temple

Free could also potentially serve 180 days of discretionary jail time.

For the misdemeanor charges, Free was sentenced to six months of local jail time that was suspended due to both sentences being served concurrently. He will also be required to pay $597 in court costs and fines.

In July 2022, Free initially pleaded not guilty to felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance.

In October 2023, Free signed a plea agreement where he agreed to plead guilty to both charges, and the prosecution agreed to recommend a minimum of one and a half years and a maximum of four and a half years in prison at sentencing.

The plea agreement was not binding on the court, meaning Whyte did not have to agree to either party’s recommendations for sentencing.

Background of the case

Idaho Falls Police were dispatched to an area near the Idaho Falls Temple on Memorial Drive on May 8, 2020, around 8 p.m.

According to court documents, officers were told there was a shooting and everyone involved had already run away. The man who had been shot, later identified as Austin James Kuck, was already at the Idaho Falls Community Hospital with a gunshot wound to the hand.

Officers identified Free as the person who had shot Kuck and the person who called the police.

When police interviewed Kuck, he told them he was suspicious of his ex-girlfriend and Free. He said he thought they had broken into his home.

He confronted the two and found his DVR in Free’s truck. While Kuck and Free were arguing, Free pulled out a gun, Kuck later told police.

RELATED | Two arrested after parking lot shootout near Idaho Falls Temple

Kuck said, “Are you going to shoot me?” to which Free responded, “Yes,” and shot him in the hand.

Kuck told police he ran back to his car, and Free drove away. Kuck returned to his home, and a friend drove him to the hospital.

When officers interviewed Free, they were given a similar version of the story.

Free told police that Kuck threw the DVR at his truck. When officers asked him if Kuck had a weapon, Free said he “could not say that he did.”

According to Kuck’s ex-girlfriend, who was with Free, Kuck fired “five or six shots” at the truck as they drove away from the area. Police went back to the hospital to interview Kuck again, where they told him there was camera footage of the shooting.

Kuck told police that he “didn’t really want to say anything, but if there was video, then he would say it was self-defense.” The officer told Kuck that self-defense did not apply since the truck was driving away from him and he was not in imminent danger.

The next day, officers served a search warrant at a home in Idaho Falls where Free was believed to be staying. They discovered fentanyl in the bedroom, and Free, along with the ex-girlfriend, were charged with felony possession of a controlled substance.

RELATED | Man sentenced for Idaho Falls temple shootout

Kuck was sentenced in April to a minimum of five and a maximum of 15 years in prison.

The post Man sentenced for 2022 shooting near Idaho Falls LDS temple appeared first on East Idaho News.

IDAHO FALLS – A 36-year-old woman was sentenced on Tuesday after she took an Alford plea for stealing money from an assisted living center.

District Judge Michael Whyte sentenced Ashley Elizabeth Allison to three years of probation, 180 days of discretionary jail time, 100 hours of community service, and must pay $800 in court costs and fees.

Whyte withheld judgment on the charge, meaning that if Allison completes her probation without any violations, she will be eligible to ask the court to remove the charge from her record.

In October 2022, Allison initially pleaded not guilty to felony grand theft and felony obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and forgery, and misdemeanor abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult.

In October 2023, Allison took an Alford plea to an amended charge of criminal possession of a financial transaction card or number, and the remaining charges of felony obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and forgery, and misdemeanor abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult were dropped.

RELATED | Woman takes Alford plea after reportedly stealing money from assisted living center and switching out patients’ narcotics for Tylenol

An Alford plea is a guilty plea where a defendant continues to assert their innocence but admits a jury would likely find them guilty with the evidence presented.

As part of a plea agreement, Allison agreed to take an Alford plea to the amended charge, and the prosecution agreed to drop the remaining charges, recommend probation and not oppose a withheld judgment at sentencing.

Background of the case

In October 2022, Idaho Falls Police were called to an assisted living center in Idaho Falls about a theft.

The owner told the officer an employee working had been misusing the company credit card and made several unauthorized transactions.

He also said Allison had allegedly stolen 190 hydrocodone pills from the elderly residents she took care of at the facility, according to documents.

When Allison came to work on Aug. 5, she reportedly put together four residents’ medication packets in bubble packs, dropped them off at the medication cart and quit, the owner said.

RELATED | Woman accused of stealing money from assisted living center, switching out medications

The next day, when the medication was being dispensed, employees noticed the pills were off, according to documents. When employees investigated, they found out that all the hydrocodone for four of the residents had been replaced with Tylenol.

During an interview with Allison, she said the assisted living center’s owner was vindictive due to her quitting.

The officer asked her if she or any of the staff would have any reason to remove the narcotic medication from the pharmacy bubble pack and then repackage them in another bubble pack at the facility and print off a label, documents said. She said no.

The day Allison quit, she allegedly brought bubble packs and repackaged medication, according to court documents. Employees noticed that instead of a computer printout of what the medication was, the label was in Allison’s handwriting.

The officer asked if it was her handwriting on the label and asked about one of the bubble packs to see if she had repackaged it. She reportedly told the officer she did.

The officer asked her why she repackaged it. She then hesitated and told the officer that she did not do that. She said somebody must have re-bubble-packed it and slapped her handwritten label on it.

In interviews, the assisted living center staff told the officer that they had no access to the facility’s bubble packs — those were locked up in Allison’s office.

An employee said it was standard protocol for all narcotic medications from the pharmacy to be handed over to Allison, and she would distribute them to the medical carts.

The owner said Allison had been working for him for more than two years, she had been a good employee and he had trusted her. He eventually gave her a company credit card for emergencies in case they ran out of food or if she needed to buy more items for the facility.

According to documents, the owner noticed that the money Allison had spent on the credit card had increased significantly. There were unauthorized charges to places like Foot Locker, Amazon Prime, Fuji Hibachi, Sparklight and Ross.

Unauthorized charges were more than $3,000, according to documents.

Police said Allison’s story did not align with the owner’s and the other staff members’ statements.

For example, the officer asked Allison about a Ross charge of over $100, and she said she took it upon herself to buy a spa package for a staff member diagnosed with breast cancer. But the woman who supposedly received the gift said Allison had given her only a card and a small candle.

Correction: A previous version of this article included incorrect information about Allison’s sentencing. It has been updated with correct information. EastIdahoNews.com apologizes for the error.

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