Bomb Probe Leads to 3 Idaho Arrests Tied to Counterfeiting

Three people linked to a white supremacist group appeared in court amid tight security Friday night on federal conspiracy and racketeering charges, and all were refused bond.

The three were arrested after an investigation into a series of bombings Monday in this northern Idaho resort town. No one was injured in Monday’s blasts or in a pipe-bombing at a priest’s home two weeks earlier.

As federal, state and county officers brought the three suspects to the courthouse from the Latah County Jail, one young protester held a sign saying, “Hate Group Leave Idaho.” Another bystander shouted, “Hang them and burn them . . . and throw away the key!”

Counterfeiting Charges

David Dorr, chief of security for the Church of Jesus Christ Christian (Aryan Nations), and Edward and Olive Hawley, who attend the white-supremacist church in nearby Hayden Lake, were arrested Thursday at Dorr’s home.

The U.S. Secret Service accused Dorr of counterfeiting violations and the Hawleys of violating terms of their release on a recent counterfeiting arrest in Spokane.

U.S. Magistrate Steve Ayers denied bond and ordered the three returned to Spokane, Wash., because most of the activities listed in the counterfeiting affidavits took place in eastern Washington.

He ordered a detention hearing for Wednesday, and Assistant U.S. Atty. Earl Hicks said in Spokane that additional charges will be presented to a federal grand jury.

Expect More Arrests

Authorities said they expect more arrests.

“It’s broader than the three people arrested,” said Kootenai County Prosecutor Glen Walker.

Dorr and the Hawleys will also be charged with conspiracy, Hicks said. He said authorities found phony $20 bills at the Dorr residence Thursday that were the same as some found early in September when Hawley was arrested for passing counterfeit money at a fair in Spokane.

A Secret Service investigation identified Dorr as the person who bought the paper and ink used in the counterfeit money, Hicks said.

Several automatic and semi-automatic weapons were seized at Dorr’s home, said Dennis McCallister, chief of the Spokane office of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.