Lapwai Man Charged with Making Threats, Harassment, Assault

COEUR D’ALENE, ID—Carl Weatherwax, 24, of Lapwai, Idaho, appeared in United States Magistrate Court today charged with making harassing communications, burglary, and assault resulting in serious bodily injury, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Weatherwax was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 13. A jury trial is set for January 31, 2012, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Coeur d’Alene.

According to the federal indictment unsealed yesterday, between July 20 and July 23, 2011, Weatherwax allegedly made repeated harassing telephone calls to a woman residing on the Nez Perce Reservation. On or about July 21, 2011, Weatherwax allegedly entered the woman’s house with the intent of kidnapping her. Weatherwax is also alleged to have assaulted the woman, causing her to suffer a dislocated kneecap and a fracture to her femur.

The charge of making repeated harassing communications, as charged in count one of the indictment, is punishable by up to two years in prison and up to one year of supervised release. Burglary, as charged in count two, is punishable by a minimum term of one year up to ten years in prison and up to three years of supervised release. Assault resulting in serious bodily injury, as charged in count three, is punishable by up to ten years in prison and up to three years of supervised release. Each charge carries a maximum fine of $250,000.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

An indictment is a means of charging a person with criminal activity. It is not evidence. The person is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.