COEUR d'ALENE - The Coeur d'Alene man recently tried for conspiracy to commit a hate crime pleaded guilty to felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from the same August confrontation that brought the original charges.

Ira G. Tankovich, 48, entered guilty pleas on Monday to being a felon in possession of a firearm and the misdemeanor charge of obstructing an officer during his arrest, according to First District Judge John Luster.

The felony is punishable by five years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines, while the misdemeanor carries up to one year and $1,000.

Tankovich, who has been convicted of other felonies, will go to trial later this week for being a repeat felony offender. If convicted, the court could enhance the felony sentence to up to life in prison, Luster said.

Tankovich was arrested Aug. 16 outside of the home of Kenneth Requena near 20th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue in Coeur d'Alene after an argument when Requena drew a gun on Tankovich and his two brothers, William Michael Tankovich, 49, and Frank James Tankovich, 46.

The three brothers allegedly returned to Requena's home following an earlier confrontation, with Ira Tankovich bringing a gun and yelling racial slurs at Requena.

While being arrested, Ira Tankovich lied to Coeur d'Alene police officers, which brought the obstruction charge.

In April, Ira Tankovich was tried for conspiracy to commit malicious harassment - or hate crime - but was found guilty of the lesser charge of misdemeanor conspiracy to disturb the peace.

He will be sentenced at 3 p.m. June 15 by Luster for the felony and both misdemeanors.

William and Frank Tankovich are being tried again on charges of conspiracy to commit malicious harassment and malicious harassment June 21 before Luster. The April trial ended in a hung jury for those two brothers.