Man gets probation for parking garage shooting

COEUR d’ALENE — A man who pleaded guilty to firing a gun inside a parking garage received a suspended prison sentence.

Lucas G. Hightower, 34, pleaded guilty in September to malicious injury to property, a felony, and four counts of discharging a weapon in city limits, all misdemeanors.

First District Judge Rich Christensen sentenced Hightower last week to five years in prison for the felony charge, the maximum possible sentence, and to 52 days in jail for each misdemeanor charge. Hightower received 52 days credit for the time he spent in jail before posting bail.

Christensen then suspended the prison sentence and placed Hightower on probation for three years. This means Hightower faces five years in prison if he violates the terms of his probation.

The charges stem from May 24, when police responded to a report of a man “yelling and shooting into vehicles” in the parking structure at Riverstone, according to a news release issued by the Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

Police detained Hightower, who they said appeared intoxicated, and found a partially loaded handgun and spent shell casings on his person.

Witnesses reportedly told police they saw Hightower pick up spent shell casings in the parking structure before fleeing the area on foot.

Hightower’s vehicle was parked in the Riverstone area “outfitted to resemble a police vehicle,” prosecutors said. Police reportedly found a loaded handgun inside the vehicle.

As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors dismissed three additional counts of discharging a weapon in city limits, as well as charges of carrying a concealed weapon while under the influence, using a fictitious name in a title application and preparing false evidence.