Smelterville resident convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm

WALLACE — After a two-day jury trial, a Shoshone County jury found a Smelterville man guilty of five counts of unlawful possession of firearms by a convicted felon Wednesday. 

Cordelle Slinkard, 25, was sentenced last March on a felony charge of forgery in a Kootenai County case. 

A probation compliance check at his home Aug. 7 resulted in the discovery of two AR style rifles and three handguns in a Chevrolet Tahoe parked outside Slinkard’s home. 

Idaho Department of Correction parole officer Austin Turpin and ISP Trooper Samuel Rodier also located tasers, handcuffs and a ballistics vest with Slinkard’s nametag and keys to operate the Tahoe were affixed to the vest. These items were found inside the vehicle near the firearms.

During the trial, Slinkard stated the firearms belonged to a business and not him.

Defense counsel raised motions addressing the language in the statute, arguing that Slinkard was not prohibited from possessing firearms under Idaho law. 

Jurors found the defendant was guilty on all five counts.  

Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Britney Jacobs argued on behalf of the state that although the Second Amendment is a vital right for lawful U.S. citizens, in limited circumstances when individuals demonstrate a gross disregard for the law, that right can be suspended, such as in the case for a convicted felon.