COEUR D’ALENE, IDAHO
A Coeur d’Alene Tribal member has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for a brazen burglary at the Stubby Lake Smoke Shop. Joseph Reno Stensgar, 36, of Plummer, Idaho, was handed down the sentence by U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge. In addition to the prison time, Stensgar was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release and pay $20,348.44 in restitution to the store and its victim.
According to the plea agreement, on January 3, 2014, Stensgar entered the Stubby Lake Smoke Shop with the intention of stealing cartons of cigarettes. However, things took a turn for the worse when he and an accomplice took not only cigarettes but also cash, a laptop computer, car keys, and even a 2012 Subaru Forrester from the store clerk. The crime occurred on the Coeur d’Alene Reservation.
The investigation into the burglary was a joint effort between the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The authorities were able to gather enough evidence to bring Stensgar to justice and secure the stiff sentence he received.
During the term of supervised release, Stensgar will be subject to searches of his person, home, and automobile, and he will be prohibited from using alcohol. This is a significant restriction, and one that Stensgar will have to live with for the next three years.
The sentence handed down to Stensgar serves as a reminder that crime does not pay, and that those who break the law will be held accountable. The Coeur d’Alene community can rest a little easier knowing that justice has been served in this case.
The case against Stensgar was filed on May 20, 2014, after he was indicted by a federal grand jury in Coeur d’Alene. His plea agreement was reached in a bid to avoid a longer sentence, and it is clear that he is taking responsibility for his actions.
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Key Facts
- State: Idaho
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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