Rogers found guilty in manslaughter trial

WALLACE — A jury needed just over an hour to return a guilty verdict in the state’s manslaughter case against Richard E. Rogers.

Rogers, 73, was arrested in August 2021 following a tragic series of events that led to the accidental death of Valerie Furrow on the streets of the tiny Shoshone County township of Calder. He was charged and convicted with vehicular manslaughter, as well as leaving the scene of an accident.

The trial unofficially began on Monday morning as the attorneys for both the state, represented by Shoshone County Prosecuting Attorney Ben Alle, and the defense, represented by Lisa Cheesbro, met to determine what evidence would be admitted before moving on to jury selection.

The details of the case painted a grim picture and while some of them didn’t entirely align with one another, it became clear that the situation was accelerated by the alcohol use of both the defendant and his accidental victim.

After a confrontation with multiple neighbors at his home — many of them intoxicated themselves, Rogers drunkenly decided to flee the scene and in doing so hit and killed Furrow, whose body got stuck beneath Rogers’ vehicle and was dragged roughly the length of a football field.

Rogers was taken into custody later that evening after being found three miles away seemingly hidden in the back corner of a large turnout area off the St. Joe River Road. It was also at this location where it was discovered that he had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .246 — roughly three times the legal limit — which was measured at least four hours after police were dispatched to the scene.

After presenting evidence from 13 different witnesses, including medical experts, an accident reconstructionist, a detective and eye-witnesses, the state rested its case by the end of the day Wednesday.

On Thursday morning, the jury was able to hear from the defendant himself who took the stand and pleaded his defense which centered on a lack of memory, combined with an argument that the defendant was justified in his actions under Idaho’s self-defense laws.

During his closing statements, Allen was quick to rebut the self-defense claim pointing out that, “Idaho’s self-defense laws require that any use of force must be reasonably necessary in order to prevent death or great bodily harm, neither of which were threatened at the time that the defendant drove his vehicle over the top of the victim.”

According to court records, more than 30 subpoenas were issued for the trial — However, Allen decided the 13 witnesses that he called would be sufficient to provide the evidence and testimony to the jury necessary to secure a conviction.

He was correct in his assumption.

Based upon the severity of the conduct charged, the Prosecuting Attorney’s office made the decision to place two attorneys on the case, enabling new deputy prosecutor Scott Sergeant to assist Prosecutor Benjamin Allen on the case.

According to Allen, this case was the culmination of collaboration between the Idaho State Police, the Benewah County’s Sheriff’s Office, and our local Shoshone County Deputies, whose cooperation together allowed for both a quick response to the initial scene and the successful application for a blood draw warrant in the middle of the night to secure an accurate BAC.

“This case means a lot to the town of Calder and although not located within the silver valley, is still very much a part of our community,” Allen concluded.

Defendants convicted of vehicular manslaughter face up to 15 years in prison, and the secondary charge in this case, leaving the scene of an accident, carries an additional five years.

Following the conclusion of the trial, the defendant was taken back into custody and held without bail pending his sentencing.

Rogers’s sentencing will take place on Oct. 4, 2022, the same date as that of Logan Silva who was previously convicted of rape in June of this year.