The Ada files: the dramatic arraignment

Normally perfunctory, but this one turned into a dramatic event.

With family court rooms largely closed to me, I wondered into the courtroom of Judge Patrick Miller, who was holding an arraignment cattle call.

Nearly ten defendants- all dressed in Ada County Jail wear, handcuffed and shackled- all awaited their arraignment.

Arraignments, where a defendant hears the charges against them and pleads guilty or not guilty, normally don’t hold much drama.

On this day, five defendants from an alleged crime spree had their arraignment.

The defendants- Karrie Sue Davidson, Bruce Richard Boni, Larry D Davis, Carlton Pierre Isiaha Mitchell, and Marcus Paul Raiford- faced charges ranging from burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, identity theft, and grand theft.

They robbed two banks, including Washington Trust Bank in Meridian, Idaho, a suburb of Boise.

Each charge carried ten to fourteen years in jail, which could be served consecutively.

The defendants rented vans, got stolen identification information, and then attempted to withdraw money from banks.

Below is part of the complaint against Davidson, supplied by the Ada County Clerk’s Office {for a $3 fee)

Judge Miller read off each defendant’s rights- including the right to remain silent, to have an attorney, and a jury trial- along with the charges each defendant faced.

In Idaho, all defendants are required to stand trial six months from their arrest, another right Judge Miller read off to each defendant.

“When a person has been held to answer for a public offense, if an indictment or information is not found against him and filed with the court within six (6) months from the date of his arrest.” According to Idaho law.

Paul Boyne, who will go well over two years from arrest before his trial is held, should have been arrested in Idaho.

Normally, defendants plead not guilty or ask to continue to another court hearing, but in this case, two defendants- including Davis- plead guilty.

In both cases, the prosecution would argue for a 3- and 11-year sentence at sentencing. This means the defendants would serve three years in jail and be eligible for parole. Their total sentence could be fourteen years.

The defense would be allowed to argue for less, according to the pleas.

Judge Miller told both defendants that he was not bound by any deals, and he could impose up to fourteen years- the total for the crimes plead guilty to- any way he wanted.

Idaho also has a version of the three strikes law. Judge Miller noted to each defendant that if they were found guilty- or plead guilty- to their third felony they would face a minimum of five years and a maximum of life in prison.

The other three defendants either plead not guilty or asked for an extension.