NEZ PERCE COUNTY, Idaho — A Boise inmate accused of killing a man while on the run from prison faced a judge on Thursday.
Skylar Meade's arraignment lasted less than 10 minutes, but this will be a huge case for Nez Perce County, as prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
Court records show Meade was indicted by a grand jury in Nez Perce County back in June for the first-degree murder of 83-year-old James Mauney.
Though homicides and death penalty cases are somewhat rare in this county, KREM 2 spoke to prosecutor Justin Coleman, who prosecuted a death penalty case last year for a man accused of killing a woman and her son. The case ended in a plea agreement and life sentence.
Coleman said Meade's attorneys, Rick Cuddihy and Ann Taylor, are both certified to handle death penalty cases.
And in another familiar move we saw in Taylor's defense of Bryan Kohberger, Meade did not enter a plea.
Judge Michelle Evans entered a not-guilty plea for Meade. Meade will serve a life sentence for his prison escape in Ada County.
Nez Perce County prosecutors asked for Meade to be on Zoom for court appearances, based on his previous escape and felony convictions for eluding and assault.
Chief Deputy Prosecutor April Smith wrote Meade presented a “security and safety risk […] to law enforcement and the general public.”
A trial date has not been set yet, with Meade due back in court in September for a status update.