Priest River man sentenced in shooting

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SANDPOINT – A Priest River man will serve three- to nine years in prison for firing a shotgun at an occupied house in November 2020.

This is the second time that Jack Leroy Darden, 47, has fired at occupied residences, according to an affidavit of probable cause by Bonner County Sheriff’s Deputy Ray Britton.

On Nov. 21, 2020, a woman reported that someone had shot her kitchen window with a shotgun. Deputies later found a 12-gauge shotgun shell in the yard. According to the affidavit, there was a straight line of sight from where the shell casing was found to where the woman was walking within her residence.

Britton learned of “multiple other reports'' that evening in the area. A 12-gauge shotgun was found the next day when deputies searched Darden’s residence.

“I am familiar with [Darden] from multiple previous incidents and know him to suffer from delusions and paranoia to the point where he is intent on ‘taking out’ people when he believes they are the ‘leaders’ in the area,” Britton said in the affidavit, “[Darden] was previously released from prison for shooting at [a woman] who lives down the road on Old Priest River Road.”

Britton is referring to a 2015 case where he was sentenced to one- to five years in prison for a count of unlawful discharge, aggravated assault, and possessing a weapon as a convicted felon.

Darden was wearing a state prison jumpsuit during Tuesday’s 10-minute-long sentencing. He has 48 previous criminal cases going back to 1992 for a variety of crimes including witness intimidation, second-degree kidnapping, and domestic assault.

Darden didn’t make a long statement during sentencing, only remarking that he is collecting Social Security.

First District Judge Barbara Buchanan followed the Rule 11 plea agreement reached by the prosecution and defense.

In a Rule 11 plea agreement, both sides agree upon a potential sentence and make a recommendation to the judge in exchange for a guilty plea from the defendant. The judge can decide whether or not to follow the agreement. If the judge does not follow the agreement, the defendant can rescind their plea.

Darden submitted an Alford guilty plea as a part of the agreement. An Alford plea is where a defendant understands that there is enough evidence for the court to find them guilty but does not admit guilt.

“The court acknowledges that Mr. Darden has significant mental health issues,” Buchanan said. “I appreciate Mr. Darden taking responsibility and taking the position where he wants to be sentenced and have this over with.

Darden will have to pay $285 in restitution, and was given 115 days credit for time served.

There is 24/7 help available for those suffering from a mental health crisis. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare can be reached at 208-769-1406, in a timely emergency, dial 911.