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IDAHO SEX TRAFFICKING
Man charged with sex trafficking of Idaho teen
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A man accused of forcing an Idaho teenager and other women into prostitution is now facing federal sex trafficking charges.
The Idaho Statesman reports Taquarius Ford recruited the 18-year-old at a Boise-area shopping mall by posing as a modeling executive.
According to court documents, he flew the woman to Los Angeles and took her to a party at the Playboy mansion.
Afterward, Ford coerced her into working as a prostitute, raping her and threatening to harm her family when she refused, prosecutors say.
The teenager was eventually rescued in Portland, and Ford was arrested in February.
He is accused of trafficking at least two other women between Sept. 2011 and June 2012, including another woman from Idaho.
A judge ordered Ford to be held without bond until his trial.
MOSCOW SHOOTING
N. Idaho man pleads guilty in trailer park killing
MOSCOW, Idaho (AP) — A northern Idaho man has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of an acquaintance at a trailer park.
The Lewiston Tribune reports that 28-year-old Nathaniel H. Nisbet made the plea Thursday in 2nd District Court. In exchange, prosecutors dropped a second-degree murder charge.
Police say Nisbet shot and killed 42-year-old Charles "Pat" McMichael during a confrontation at the Bel Air Mobile Home Park in Moscow on Nov. 10.
Authorities say McMichael arrived at the home with his wife and Nisbet's estranged wife to change the locks on her mobile home, but McMichael found Nisbet inside with a 9 mm pistol.
Judge John R. Stegner has yet to rule on whether he will accept the plea agreement.
If he does, Nisbet faces up to 15 years in prison.
BUJAK-FEDERAL CHARGES
Former prosecutor gets OK to represent himself
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A former southwest Idaho prosecutor charged with bankruptcy fraud in federal court has been given the OK to represent himself.
The Idaho Press-Tribune reports that U.S. District Court Judge Edward Lodge in documents released Thursday approved John Bujak's request.
Bujak in January pleaded not guilty to bankruptcy fraud, concealment of assets, making a false statement under oath, money laundering and obstruction of justice.
The U.S. attorney's office alleges Bujak did not disclose to the bankruptcy court that he and his then-wife owned a $25,000 Rolex watch and that it and a ring were sold to an out-of-state jeweler.
Prosecutors say Bujak cashed the check at a payday loan store rather than putting it in his bank account.
BOY-KNIFE
Police: SW Idaho boy brought knife to school
CALDWELL, Idaho (AP) — Officials in southwest Idaho say a 14-year-old boy brought a knife to school and that he will be expelled and could face criminal charges.
Caldwell Police Lt. Alan Seevers tells KTVB-TV the boy brought a 3-inch fixed blade knife to Syringa Middle School on Thursday but didn't threaten anyone.
Seevers also says the boy had marijuana in his possession.
Seevers says the case will be turned over to the Canyon County prosecutor.
The boy isn't being identified because of his age.
TWO BODIES
Police: Deaths of 2 E. Idaho women not connected
POCATELLO, Idaho (AP) — Authorities in eastern Idaho are investigating after finding the bodies of two women in a span of about 15 minutes in separate locations.
But authorities tell the Idaho State Journal the deaths reported on Thursday are not connected.
Firefighters responding to a burning home in Inkom at about 7 p.m. found the body of 35-year-old Michelle Tripp inside.
Bannock County Coroner Kim Quick says Tripp appears to have died of smoke inhalation. It's unclear what caused the fire.
About 15 minutes later, a hiker reported a vehicle with a body in it south of Pocatello.
Quick says the 31-year-old woman inside had likely been dead several days. Her name hasn't been released.
Authorities are continuing to investigate both deaths.
BODY FOUND-RIVER
Body found in Coeur d'Alene River in N. Idaho
OSBURN, Idaho (AP) — Police in northern Idaho say a body found in the Coeur d'Alene River near the town of Osburn is likely that of an 82-year-old man reported missing several weeks ago.
Shoshone County Sheriff Mitch Alexander tells the Coeur d'Alene Press that identification belonging to Warren Peter Trexle of Wallace was found on the body.
Alexander says an Osburn resident spotted the body in the river on Thursday.
Alexander says an autopsy is planned. He didn't give a cause of death.
CUCKOO COMMENT
Government extends public comment period on cuckoo
DENVER (AP) — The government shutdown has led the Fish and Wildlife Service to extend the public comment period on a proposal that yellow-billed cuckoos found in the West be listed as threatened.
Steve Segin, a spokesman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, noted Friday that the opening of the original public comment period coincided with the government shutdown last fall. The deadline, originally in December, was this week extended to April 25.
The service proposes listing the bird as threatened in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Oregon, and Washington in the United States and in Canada and Mexico.
The Denver Post reported Friday that the bird's numbers dropped from the thousands across the West to only 500 breeding pairs today, with 10 pairs in Colorado.
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