NEW PLYMOUTH, Idaho — The mayor of New Plymouth is in jail, charged with shooting his son Jacob on Thursday, Nov. 2. On Friday afternoon Mayor Rick York was arraigned.
KTVB spoke to some people in the community, and many said they are shaken up after hearing the news.
"For the city, I think it's a very sad phenomenon, really sad," New Plymouth resident Virginia Barton said.
The Payette County Sheriff’s Department got a call around 7:00 p.m. on Thursday from the mayor. Police said he told them he had shot his son in the arm.
Brian Hershey said he heard the call on his police scanner at home.
"It was on Payette SO and they were talking about someone getting shot,” Hershey said. “I wasn't sure who it was, but they were asking if it was accidental or on purpose."
The mayor's son was taken to the hospital where he is expected to be ok.
During the investigation, the sheriff's office said they learned York and his son had gotten into an argument before the shooting.
KTVB was there for York’s arraignment where a judge only allowed media to take still photography.
At the hearing, a KTVB photographer heard York state that none of the charges mention self-defense. The judge then warned York not to say anything that could incriminate him.
"It's just a sad situation for the whole family, it's ruined,” Hershey said. “The dad is in jail and the son is probably going to be scarred for life."
York was charged with one felony count of aggravated battery and two misdemeanor charges. One misdemeanor for possession of a deadly weapon with intent to assault and the other for use of a deadly weapon.
"This is a really unfortunate circumstance for the city employees, the people that work here, and for the community as a whole,” Barton said. “This is not the notoriety our sweet little town needs brought upon us, it's really unfortunate."
The mayor's bond is set at $75,000 and if he posts bond, he will be required to wear a GPS monitor. The judge also signed a no contact order, which means York will not be able to be around his son or communicate with him at all.
A status conference is set for November 13 at 9:30 a.m., and a preliminary hearing could be held the following day on November 14.
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