Priest River man guilty of arson in 2022 BoCo fires receives felony sentence

By Reader Staff

Ryan N. Greene, of Priest River, pleaded guilty to six counts of third-degree felony arson on Feb. 16, with a sentence of concurrent five years in prison for each charge and five years indeterminate.

Greene was responsible for several fires that occurred in Bonner County in July and August 2022 at the height of wildfire season, according to Idaho State Fire Marshal Knute Sandahl. “Thanks to the rapid and effective response by the West Pend Oreille Fire District and others, a major inferno was averted,” Sandahl stated in a news release Feb. 28 from the Idaho Department of Insurance.

As part of the plea deal, the U.S. government agreed not to bring separate federal charges in connection to the summer 2022 fires. Greene was ordered to pay restitution and court costs of $245.50 per case for a total of $1,473.

Investigators from the Idaho State Fire

Marshal’s Office; Bonner County Sheriff’s Office; U.S. Forest Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Department of Homeland Security; and Idaho Department of Lands collaborated over a two-month period to identify Greene as the perpetrator. Investigators quickly identified a pattern with the fires in the Priest River area and concluded that they had been the work of a serial arsonist.

Vehicles connected to Greene were seen in the area of three of the fires, all determined to have been human-caused. During interviews with investigators, Greene admitted to using gasoline, diesel and lighter fluid to start the fires.

“Anyone considering arson should know that we will investigate, and we will prosecute,” stated Sandahl. “Arson is harmful to our state and affects state resources. We are appreciative of all the other agencies who assisted us in bringing this individual to justice, and protecting Idahoans from devastating fires and those who start them.” into place a youth job skills training program at the Bonner County Juvenile Detention Center.

He has served as a school board chairman and fire district commissioner, as well as founded and participated in several other community programs.

“I am presently keenly interested in bringing all my experience to bear for the benefit of our community,” Baker stated. “And it is amazing, because the pillars of economic development include strengthening the public education system, protecting the environment, developing infrastructure, growing a capable and available workforce, housing that workforce affordably, providing tools and resources for existing businesses to thrive and attracting new non-polluting businesses to our community.

“So while I had wondered about which one area of nonprofit work I should possibly segue to, I stumbled on to this opportunity, where all of those aspects come into play, and where all of my previous experience aligns,” he added. “That is the serendipity.”

To learn more about the Pend Oreille Economic Partnership, visit bonnercountyedc.com.

Incumbent Library Trustee Susan Shea to seek reelection

By Reader Staff

Incumbent East Bonner County Library Trustee Susan Shea has announced plans to seek reelection in the May 2023 election.

Shea was elected to the Library Board of Trustees in 2017. Over the course of her sixyear tenure, Shea has contributed her financial experience to the Library Board, drawing on 45 years of employment in finance.

According to her campaign announcement, Shea’s experience helped reduce the amount of the levy each year and steadily reduce the community’s library tax contributions by declining an annual 3% tax increase.

“Ms. Shea is a strong team player and she works collaboratively with the other four library trustees in order to promote the East Bonner County Library’s vision, ensure its effectiveness and provide excellent library services for our community,” the announcement stated, adding, “The United States Constitution guides Ms. Shea’s commitment to protecting the First Amendment rights of all of our citizens.”

A resident of Bonner County for 30 years, Shea has worked at Coldwater Creek, Timberline Helicopter, Southside Water and Sewer District, and as director of Bonner County’s Indigent and Charity Program. She has been married for 45 years to Dan Shea, who recently retired from the Bonner County Audit Department.

The election is scheduled for Tuesday, May 16. Register to vote and/or request an absentee ballot at the Bonner County Election Offices (1500 Hwy. 2, Suite 124, in Sandpoint) or by going to voteidaho.gov. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Friday, May 5 at 5 p.m. Early, in-person voting runs 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday from May 1 to May 12 at the Elections Office.