POCATELLO — A 36-year-old local man is facing felony charges after police say he pointed a handgun at a woman’s father during a confrontation at the same property where the woman was found dead five days earlier.
Joseph Anthony Devine, 36, of Pocatello, was arrested Wednesday night, one day after the Bannock County Coroner’s Office identified the woman, Samantha Dash, 33, as the person found dead at a home in the 800 block of East Wyeth Street on Sunday, July 26, authorities said.
Dash’s body was discovered in the early morning hours on Sunday following what police initially described as a disturbance.
According to previous police statements, officers and fire crews were called to the home around 12:20 a.m. after a caller reported a woman inside was unconscious and not breathing. Responding units determined a disturbance had occurred and that the woman was dead.
The coroner’s office said next of kin has been notified and that the case remains under investigation by Pocatello police. An autopsy was ordered, though results have not been released.
“My heart goes out to Samantha’s friends and family during this difficult time,” Coroner Torey Danner said in the release.
Pocatello Police told the Idaho State Journal earlier this week that Dash’s death is not connected to a separate, suspicious death investigation involving a woman found in a burning mobile home on South Fifth Avenue last week.
Devine’s arrest July 29 stemmed from an unrelated incident at the same property, police said
Devine, Dash’s boyfriend, had come to the home to speak with her family following her death, according to police and court records the Idaho State Journal obtained Thursday.
Dash’s father told police Devine became argumentative during their conversation, then stood up and pointed a black handgun at his head, the police report says. A witness at the scene corroborated the account, telling police she saw Devine point the weapon at the man’s face, police said.
Officers who searched the property recovered two firearms, including a modified Stevens 20-gauge shotgun with a shortened barrel and stock, and a CO2-powered pellet gun resembling a Glock handgun with its barrel removed, of which the latter was found in Devine’s pocket, according to court records. Police said the sawed-off shotgun had been sitting on a bench inside the trailer during the confrontation.
Devine was booked into the Bannock County Jail on charges of aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a firearm, the latter stemming from prior felony convictions in Colorado, court records show. Prosecutors also filed notice of an active warrant for Devine’s arrest out of Bingham County at the time of the incident.
Devine appeared before 6th District Magistrate Judge Carol “Tippi” Jarman for an arraignment hearing via video conference from the Bannock County Jail Thursday, where his bond was set at $1,215,000.
He is scheduled to appear in court again Aug. 11 for a preliminary hearing. Prosecutors will attempt to present sufficient evidence to elevate the case from magistrate to district court for trial.
If convicted of felony aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a firearm charges, Devine faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Prosecutors have also filed notice they intend to seek an enhancement against Devine that could extend any prison sentence levied against him by up to 15 years.
Dash’s mother, Teresa Head, has started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover cremation costs and a celebration of life for her daughter, who leaves behind four children. As of Friday, the fundraiser had collected $1,265 toward a $2,800 goal.
Anyone with information related to Dash’s death is asked to contact the Pocatello Police Department at 208-234-6100.