COEUR d’ALENE — The case against a man accused of destroying an unoccupied Post Falls home with an excavator will proceed.

Fred J. Kudrna IV, 29, is charged with felony burglary, malicious injury to property and operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence. 

First District Judge Anna Eckhart determined that probable cause exists to bind the case over to the district court for trial. However, after a hearing Tuesday afternoon, she acknowledged what the state calls a “breadcrumb” case. 

“This certainly is not the strongest preliminary hearing I have ever presided over,” Eckhart said. 

The charges stem from the early hours of Nov. 11, when prosecutors said neighbors called 911 to report an excavator destroying a newly-built home at the corner of Alsea Loop and West Platte Avenue. The house was not on the market, witnesses testified, but said its value was around $500,000. 

In court Tuesday, neighbors described waking around 5:30 a.m. to loud noises. 

“I opened my blinds to check outside and saw lights and an excavator reach out over the home next to mine and start destroying it,” Nathaniel Shoemaker said. 

Others said it was dark and foggy when they saw a Komatsu excavator demolishing a home, making it impossible to see who was operating the machinery. After the destruction stopped, witnesses said they saw a black van drive away from the scene. 

Kelly Brunner testified that she saw a long-haired man wearing an orange shirt and an orange hat behind the wheel of the van. She told the court she recognized Kudrna as the driver. 

Judge Eckhart said she relied “heavily” on Brunner’s testimony to find probable cause. 

Post Falls Police Officer Lucas Crigger said he responded to the scene and then searched for the black van. He pulled Kudrna over about half a mile from the demolition site. When questioned, Kudrna allegedly admitted to drinking and driving. 

Kurdna had a job laying pipe for MDM Construction Group, a contractor working in the development where the home was destroyed. Jesse O’Hagan, the owner of the business, testified that Kurdna had worked on the job site for several days and was scheduled to work Nov. 11, the day of the incident. 

Kudrna had no training to operate heavy machinery, O’Hagan said. He said multiple interchangeable keys for the excavators were readily available around the job site. 

Defense attorney Tyler Naftz argued that prosecutors lacked sufficient evidence to show that Kudrna destroyed the home. 

“What the State has put forth is, at best, circumstantial evidence,” he said. 

Prosecuting Attorney Stan Mortensen appeared to acknowledge this. However, he said witness testimony, Kudrna’s employment at the job site and his proximity to the scene were enough to find probable cause. 

“The elephant in the room, of course, is that no one saw the defendant in the excavator,” Mortensen said. “This is a breadcrumb case. You’ve just got to follow the breadcrumbs.” 

Kudrna remains in jail on $75,000 bond. 

    Fred J. Kudrna IV, left, confers with his attorney, Tyler Naftz, during a hearing Tuesday.