THOMPSON FALLS – Gunner McKenley Dye, 21, made his initial appearance in Sanders County Court on Tuesday, Aug. 5 at 10 a.m. in front of District Judge Deborah K. Christopher.

According to an affidavit filed by Sanders County Attorney Robert L. Zimmerman, Dye has been accused of deliberate homicide in the death of his son, Shane Gabriel-Leon Dye.

Though last Tuesday marked Dye’s initial appearance in county court, the defendant’s initial plea was delayed until the next hearing, which will take place on Aug. 12 at 10 a.m. in front of Judge James Manley.

Dye’s attorney, Ashley Morigeau, was in attendance representing her client and she notified Judge Christopher that both an acknowledgement of rights and a substitution of judge had been filed earlier Tuesday morning.

Dye sat still for the duration of Tuesday morning’s court appearances and could be seen with his head down, his long hair covering his face following his appearance before Judge Christopher.  

When asked by Judge Christopher if her client wanted to go over the process of the arraignment during the initial appearance Morigeau requested those proceedings to take place next week.

“My client would prefer if you set that for next week,” Morigeau said.

 The court affidavit filed by Zimmerman, the prosecuting attorney, states the cause of the baby’s death was determined to be craniocerebral and cervical trauma, injuries the medical examiner believes were the result of an assault. The injuries were reported consistent with Shaken Baby Syndrome.