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Plea spares girl, 9, from testifying against captor
Associated Press
16 Oct 2006 1:59 pm
The man accused of kidnapping two children from their Idaho home and killing their family pleaded guilty Monday to murder and kidnapping in a deal that spares his youngest victim from testifying at trial.
Joseph E. Duncan III, 43, was charged with bludgeoning two adults and a teenager to death at the home near Coeur d'Alene so he could kidnap the family's two youngest children for sex.
The young boy was later found dead at a Montana campsite.
Only 9-year-old Shasta Groene survived. She was rescued after Duncan walked into a Idaho restaurant with her seven weeks later. She had been expected to be a primary witness against Duncan.
Duncan pleaded guilty shortly before his trial was to begin Monday to three counts of first-degree murder in the deadly claw hammer attack on Shasta's mother, Brenda Groene; Groene's fiance, Mark McKenzie; and Groene's 13-year-old son, Slade, in May 2005.
Under his plea agreement, Duncan is to be sentenced to three consecutive life terms without parole in Idaho.
That sentencing was delayed pending federal prosecution that could result in the death penalty, Kootenai County Prosecutor Bill Douglas said.
"We essentially gave up nothing," Douglas said. "It is virtually guaranteed he will face two death juries."
The agreement calls for Duncan to cooperate fully with law enforcement officers on the state charges and the anticipated federal charges in the kidnapping of the two children and the killing of Dylan in Montana.
Prosecutor Douglas rejected Duncan's earlier offers to confess to the crimes he is charged with -- plus other crimes for which he is not yet charged -- in exchange for avoiding the death penalty.
Federal public defender Roger Peven, who will represent Duncan in the federal court case, says the defendant also wanted to spare Shasta the trauma of having to testify against him in court.
"It's the right thing to do," Peven said last week.
Shasta is under additional stress because her father, Steve, is battling throat cancer, which has required the removal of his larynx. Steve Groene asked prosecutors to settle the case to spare his daughter.
Victims' father sues Joseph Duncan to prevent him from profiting off murders
Emanuella Grinberg
06 Oct 2006 1:11 pm
The father of Shasta and Dylan Groene has filed a wrongful death suit seeking to prevent convicted sex offender Joseph Duncan III from profiting off the kidnappings and murders of the Groene family in May 2005.
Steven Groene's lawsuit asks that Duncan, 43, not be allowed to write books or provide "television or movie content" stemming from his alleged involvement in the deaths of Groene's sons, Dylan, 9, and Slade, 13, or his ex-wife, Brenda.
Groene's lawsuit also seeks $75,000 in damages for emotional distress and battery against daughter Shasta, whom authorities believe Duncan kidnapped along with her brother, Dylan, from their rural Idaho home after he killed the rest of the family on May 16, 2005.
Police contend that Duncan molested the two missing children during several weeks they spent in hiding, before finally killing Dylan.
The suit, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Idaho, accuses Duncan of causing Shasta and her father "severe mental anguish" stemming from the loss of "care, companionship and society" of their deceased kin.
Nampa Man Pushing for Tougher Sex Offender Laws
14 Sep 2006 9:39 am
Unlike some other states, in Idaho, neighbors aren't notified when a sex offender moves in. Imagine finding out your new neighbor is a sex offender. This is what happened to Jeremy Breeding.
It all started when Breeding noticed that someone had broke into his house. He had his suspicions and used the Internet to find out more about his neighbors. He did, and was shocked to learn the groundskeeper, who is also his next door neighbor, was a sexual predator.
"He's just like every average person, nice. You had no indication and that's the scary part about it is you don't know who it is," said Breeding.
The groundskeeper was convicted of sexual abuse of a child under 16 years of age in Twin Falls County 10 years ago. Now he lives next door to two young girls and a daycare that usually has 10 kids per day. As long as the registered sex offender isn't there when kids are present, living three doors down is legal.
Federal judge in Idaho rejects murderer's appeal
REBECCA BOONE
07 Sep 2006 1:46 am
A federal court has rejected an appeal from an Idaho man who claimed he killed a Clarkston, Wash., couple because they molested his daughter.
Kenneth Arrasmith contended in U.S. District Court that the state withheld evidence and that deputies lied during his 1995 trial for the murders of Luella and Ronald Bingham.
But U.S. Judge Edward Lodge disagreed, dismissing the case with prejudice - meaning the issues in the appeal cannot be brought before a court again.
Former coach pleads not guilty to sex charges
TERRY SMITH
16 Aug 2006 12:00 am
A former Wood River Valley youth lacrosse coach pleaded not guilty Monday to four felony charges for allegedly having sex with a 14-year-old Hailey girl.
Specifically, the indictment charges [him] with rape, lewd conduct with a child under 16, sexual abuse of a child under 16 and enticing a minor over the Internet.
Both the rape and lewd conduct charges carry maximum penalties in Idaho of life in prison. The sexual abuse and Internet enticement counts are each punishable by up to 15 years behind bars.
FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER
13 Aug 2006 12:00 am
Several agencies and organizations here in Southeast Idaho have teamed up to help make the process of reporting incidents of domestic violence easier for victims.
It was an evening to "celebrate justice for all" Saturday night at the Idaho Falls Shilo Inn.
A silent art auction was hosted by the Family Justice Center Committee.
Their goal was to raise enough money to build a facility that would house law enforcement officers, prosecutors and treatment providers all in one location -- that way victims of domestic violence would only have to tell their story once.
"Domestic violence is a problem in our community. We will file a criminal charge today, we filed one yesterday, we filed one the day before. If you look at the statistics, we're filing approximately 400 to 450 domestics every year in Bonneville County."
CONVICTED IDAHO SEX OFFENDER SHOOTS SELF ON LEWISTON HILL
Associated Press
31 Jul 2006 12:00 am
A Lewiston man convicted Friday of ten felony charges of sexual abuse and sexual battery -- but released after the court hearing by the judge -- is in serious condition after he shot himself in the head.
Harold E- Grist Junior is in Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center after he shot himself at the top of the Lewiston hill late Friday night. Before the shooting, the 47-year-old was convicted on charges of repeatedly molesting the daughter of a former live-in girlfriend.
Idaho lawmakers consider ways to strengthen sex offender laws
The hot-button issue of tightening up laws relating to sex offenders is receiving both local and national attention after the arrest of Joseph Duncan, the man accused of murdering four members of the Groene family last May. Duncan was a convicted sex offender.
“The whole area of sexual abuse could be approached in various ways by this Legislature,” said Sen. Denton Darrington, R-Declo.
SEX ABUSE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS
Victims of child molestation can now come forward at any age to seek criminal charges against their attacker. Until now, cases had to be filed by the time the victim turned 23. This law is not retroactive, but it does apply from now on.
