COEUR d’ALENE, Idaho — A jury of six, along with an alternate juror, was sworn in on Monday, December 15 to hear the criminal misdemeanor charges brought against Paul Trouette, the CEO of Lear Asset Management. The case stems from an incident at a political event hosted by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC) on February 22, 2025, in which Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris directed the removal of several individuals who caused disruptions, including Teresa Borrenpohl and Ben Stallings.
Trouette faces a total of eight counts—four counts of battery, two counts of false imprisonment, and two counts of violating municipal code pertaining to security agents. Four other men who had previously been charged with similar misdemeanors related to the same incident had their cases dismissed on December 2, leaving Trouette as the sole defendant.
District Judge Mayli Walsh gave instructions to the jury which included the admonishment that the defendant is to be presumed innocent and does not have to present a defense. Walsh emphasized that the burden lies with the state to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
During his opening remarks, the Coeur d’Alene Deputy Prosecutor Ryan Hunter told the jury that “this is not about politics” in a case that alleges a sitting member of the Kootenai County Democrat Central Committee, former Democrat candidate, and known political activist, Teresa Borrenpohl, was the victim of battery and imprisonment at a Republican event.
The jury was not presented with evidence of Borrenpohl’s affiliation, however they were informed that the event was hosted by the Republican group.
Five people were called to the stand by Hunter over the course of the day. Marc Stewart, a KCRCC precinct committeeman, Kelly Human, a Coeur d’Alene School District employee, Det. Josh Reneau, a Coeur d’Alene Police Department officer assigned to Coeur d’Alene High School, Ben Stallings, an attendee at the event, and Rathdrum Police Chief Daniel Haley, the head investigator in the case.
The first three witnesses answered questions relating to the selection of the venue for the event.
Stewart confirmed that he was the one who suggested the KCRCC rent a facility at the Coeur d’Alene High School and that he filled out the application using an online form. At one point, Stewart claimed that attendees on the “far right” were angry with Rep. Jordan Redman (R-Rathdrum). Defense attorney Josh Hanners objected based on hearsay and Walsh sustained the objection.
Stewart also testified that around 150 people left the event immediately following the removal of Borrenpohl. There was no mention that a significant number of individuals leaving the Republican town hall where associated with the Democrat party, including Evan Koch who was the Chairman of the KCDCC at the time of the event and Democrat Precinct Captains Adam Bennett, Tom Hearn, Paula Marano, Sarah Martin, and Megan Dardis-Kunz.
Reneau testified that his interpretation of Idaho code 18-3302 disallowed Lear Asset security agents from carrying firearms since the company was not employed by the KCRCC, nor did it have a valid contract. No firearms were worn by any of the security personnel at the event and no charges relating to firearms were filed against anyone in conjunction to the incident.
Stallings admitted to shouting out of turn during the town hall which resulted in being told to leave by Sheriff Norris. He objected to the way in which Russell Dunne, a Lear Asset employee, assisted the sheriff. The jury watched a short video without audio showing Stallings in a hallway outside the auditorium with Dunne and Trouette.
The majority of the prosecution’s questioning of Haley centered around Sheriff Norris’ presence and actions at the political event, even though Norris is not on trial and is expected to be called as a witness by the defense.
During his very brief opening statement, Hanners told the jury that Idaho code protects individuals who assist law enforcement when called upon. The Idaho Attorney General’s Office already investigated the matter and issued a six-page legal opinion on November 3 exonerating Norris of any criminal wrongdoing.
The AG’s legal analysis stated, “At the very least, the sheriff had a good faith basis to believe he could remove Borrenpohl from the event without violating the First Amendment. The First Amendment does not give Borrenpohl, or anyone else, the right to attend an event held by a private entity in the reserved space of a public building and shout down the meeting organizers until they change the format of the meeting. Borrenpohl’s repeated and ongoing attempts to shout down the moderator immediately before the sheriff attempted to remove her from the event were sufficient for the sheriff to ask her to leave pursuant to the rules established by the KCRCC. When Borrenpohl refused the sheriff’s request, the sheriff had probable cause and a good faith basis to arrest and remove Borrenpohl from the event.”
Readers can watch a video uploaded to YouTube showing Norris’ interaction with Borrenpohl and the ensuing actions by Lear Asset employees at the behest of the sheriff.
The trial is expected to last three days and will resume at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow morning in courtroom 15.
