A Tuesday preliminary hearing for a Bonners Ferry woman accused of driving a car into her ex-husband’s truck, was postponed due to a conflict of interest with Magistrate Judge Quentin F. Harden.

Harden told the court that he had spoken to suspect Donna Short about the case, not knowing he would be hearing it.

Short was charged in connection with an accident reported at 11:05 a.m. April 21 at Far North Outfitters in Bonners Ferry. Store owner Gary Short told police that his ex-wife, Donna Short, drove her car into his truck.

Donna Short was arrested and taken to Boundary County Jail, where she was later released on her own recognizance because the state took longer than 24 hours to file charges.

Donna Short is charged with felony damage to property.

There was $2,500 in damage done to Gary Short’s 2001 Nissan pickup and $4,500 damage was done to the car Donna Short was driving; the car was a 2005 Chevy Eqinox registered to Sandy and Marr Sonko.

A plea bargain is in the works. Sentencing will take place at 1:30 p.m., June 24, at Boundary County Courthouse.