Kidnapper gets 20-year sentence
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 11 years AGO
The 58-year-old homeless man who kidnapped a Rathdrum woman at gunpoint and took her to four states before releasing her in Montana was sentenced on Tuesday.
Mitchell Lee Walck, 58, was sentenced by District Judge Fred Gibler to serve up to life in prison for three felony offenses related to the Nov. 30, 2012, incident.
The sentencing included a fixed term of 20 years and up to life as an indeterminate sentence for robbery; a fixed term of 20 or more years and additional years of indeterminate time for second-degree kidnapping; and a fixed term of 10 years for aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.
"Mr. Walck is clearly a danger to society," Prosecuting Attorney Barry McHugh said. "His crimes placed numerous law enforcement officers and citizens in danger. He permanently traumatized the kidnap victim (Susan-Marie Smith). His complete lack of respect for the law and others justifies the long sentence imposed by Judge Gibler."
Walck's prior convictions include felony theft, for which he served a prison sentence, assault and harassment.
On Feb. 3, 2014, Walck pleaded guilty to the charges stemming from the 2012 incident that started near Spirit Lake.
Walck was being pursued by officers through the Spirit Lake/Rathdrum area after he failed to stop for a traffic violation on Highway 41 south of Spirit Lake, according police reports.
After the vehicle Walck was driving was disabled with a spike strip, he fled on foot and fired his pistol at an officer who was chasing him, according to police.
A search for Walck was unsuccessful.
On Dec. 1, 2012, Walck approached Smith outside her residence at the base of Rathdrum Mountain and held her at gunpoint.
He forced her to feed him, clean his clothes and to leave with him, according to police reports.
Walck took Smith in her vehicle into Washington, back into Idaho, through Montana and into North Dakota before dropping her off in Glendive, Mont.
He took Smith's rifles and some money.
Smith was not harmed and called police from a grocery store.
Walck was arrested in Bismark, N.D., on Dec. 5, 2012, after he was found hiding in a semi at a truck stop and pulled a gun on a trucker.
McHugh praised the work of law enforcement officers and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Art Verharen, who prosecuted the case.