Defendants enter not guilty pleas

In the final session of 20th District Judicial Court of 2019, on Dec. 24, Justin Loehner pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of attempted deliberate homicide before Judge James Manley. Loehner was arrested earlier in December after a shooting at an apartment complex in Paradise.

Also in court on December 24, Cody Best pleaded not guilty to three charges, including felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs, felony engendering the welfare of children and a misdemeanor charge of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. Last November, Best and his girlfriend were arrested during a probation search of their Thompson Falls residence. Charging documents state that Sanders County Sheriff’s Office and Thompson Falls Police Department responded and found scales, baggies, a glass pipe and needles in the home.

Judge Manley set the trial date for both Loehner and Best for May 26, 2020.