[Vision2020] Judge Releases Deary Boy Into Parent's Custody

[Tom Hansen]

"In releasing Rickert, [Judge] Calhoun stipulated that he can no longer
visit his grandfather's house, where his father also lives. Calhoun also
said he can only leave his mother's home in Deary to go to school, unless
he has the express permission of Latah County Youth Services."

Courtesy of the Lewiston Tribune.

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Judge releases Deary boy into parent's custody

MOSCOW -- Lewis County Magistrate Stephen Calhoun released Austin James
Rickert into the custody of his parents today after strengthening
restrictions on the Deary teen's movements.

Rickert and his friend Austin Medlock, both 14, were arrested on Jan. 22
for allegedly shooting at more than 20 vehicles on State Highway 8 near
Helmer with two .22 rifles and a crossbow. No one was injured.

Latah County Magistrate John Judge released the boys to their parents
after they spent the weekend in jail, but Rickert was arrested again on
Thursday when detectives found a pipe bomb and large amounts of ammunition
in the room he uses at his grandfather's house on Forks Road outside of
Helmer.

Rickert and Medlock are each charged with four felony counts of
discharging a firearm at a motor vehicle. Rickert also faces a felony
charge of possessing a bomb or destructive device. The Latah County
Prosecutor's office has said the investigation into the shooting is
ongoing, and more charges could be filed.

Both juveniles had status hearings this morning at the Latah County
Courthouse. The hearings were continued until Feb. 17 so their attorneys
could have more time to prepare.

In releasing Rickert, Calhoun stipulated that he can no longer visit his
grandfather's house, where his father also lives. Calhoun also said he can
only leave his mother's home in Deary to go to school, unless he has the
express permission of Latah County Youth Services.

Judge's conditions for the earlier release included that neither leave the
sight of one of their parents, that all guns be removed from their homes,
that they not touch a firearm, that their parents take them to and from
school, that they both wear electronic monitoring devices, and that they
agree to be searched at any time by authorities.

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
and the Realist adjusts his sails."

- Unknown