Wednesday, June 11, 2025
51.0°F

Patriot Front members take pleas before trial

KAYE THORNBRUGH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 9 months AGO
by KAYE THORNBRUGH
Kaye Thornbrugh is a second-generation Kootenai County resident who has been with the Coeur d’Alene Press for six years. She primarily covers Kootenai County’s government, as well as law enforcement, the legal system and North Idaho College. | August 23, 2023 1:05 AM

COEUR d’ALENE — After the back-to-back convictions of seven members of Patriot Front, other members of the white nationalist group appear to be accepting plea deals rather than going to trial.

Winston W. Durham, of Genesee, and Spencer T. Simpson, of Ellensburg, Wash., both entered admissions within the last week to the infraction of failure to obtain a parade permit. Simpson has also paid a $465.50 fine. Jury trials in both cases have been vacated.

The men were originally charged with conspiracy to riot, a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a maximum fine of $1,000.

Prosecutors accused Durham, Simpson and 29 co-conspirators of planning to violently disrupt a Pride celebration in downtown Coeur d’Alene in June 2022. Police stopped and arrested the group before the U-Haul truck they were riding in arrived in City Park.

A judge ordered five Patriot Front members to spend three days in jail following their misdemeanor convictions in July, while two others who were tried separately this month received no additional jail time. All seven convicted Patriot Front members were ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, minus the $300 bail they posted after their 2022 arrests.

Court records indicate that several other Patriot Front members whose trial dates are approaching have recently paid fees in the amount of $456.50 or $156.50.

Conor J. Ryan, Dylan C. Corio, Mitchell F. Wagner and Josiah D. Buster have all paid fees.

Trials for the remaining Patriot Front members are scheduled from late August through October.

MORE FRONT-PAGE-SLIDER STORIES

Patriot Front trials set for July
Coeur d'Alene Press | Updated 1 year, 11 months ago
Patriot Front trials set for July
Coeur d'Alene Press | Updated 1 year, 11 months ago
Patriot Front trials set for July
Coeur d'Alene Press | Updated 1 year, 11 months ago

ARTICLES BY KAYE THORNBRUGH

KCSO proposes $54 million budget
June 11, 2025 1:09 a.m.

KCSO proposes $54 million budget

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office outlined a proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 in a Tuesday meeting with county commissioners.

Former precinct committeeman objects to removal from KCRCC
June 10, 2025 1:09 a.m.

Former precinct committeeman objects to removal from KCRCC

A former member of the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee said she was wrongly removed from her elected position, while GOP leadership contends that her removal was required under the group’s rules.

'So much bigger than us:' Coeur d'Alene celebrates Pride
June 8, 2025 1:07 a.m.

'So much bigger than us:' Coeur d'Alene celebrates Pride

North Idaho Pride Alliance executive director Dr. Sarah Lynch had simple, but powerful words to describe Saturday’s Pride in the Park.