Developer’s Son Pleads Guilty to Illegal Arrest : Courts: George L. Argyros Jr. flashed a medallion to force a motorist off an Idaho road.

The son of Newport Beach developer George Argyros pleaded guilty Monday to using a nonprofit organization’s medallion to force a motorist off an Idaho road last month and threaten him with arrest.

George L. Argyros Jr., 28, pleaded guilty to one count of illegal arrest and seizure, a misdemeanor, in a plea agreement with Blaine County, Ida., prosecutors. Argyros, who did not appear in the Idaho courtroom Monday, faces up to six months in jail and a $300 fine when he is sentenced about two months from now, said Blaine County Deputy Dist. Atty. Douglas Nelson.

The older Argyros, reached by telephone in Newport Beach on Monday, declined to comment.

The younger Argyros was originally charged with reckless driving and impersonating a police officer for flashing his Orange County Sheriff’s Advisory Council medallion at Henry Fieguth, 35, of Ketchum, Ida., and threatening to arrest him after forcing him off the road on March 3.

Fieguth told police that Argyros was driving erratically and crossing the double yellow line behind him. Argyros’ vehicle nearly collided with Fieguth’s before Argyros forced him off the road, Fieguth said.

Argyros denied the charges, claiming that the incident on Highway 75 outside Sun Valley, Ida., was a misunderstanding.

Argyros told authorities he was in a hurry and was honking his horn at Fieguth in an effort to get him to move out of the way. He told police he merely wanted to talk to Fieguth about his driving once they both stopped on the side of the road.

When Fieguth became angry, Argyros said he pulled out the medallion, hoping it would get him “out of trouble,” according to a police report of the incident.

Argyros, who lives in Newport Beach, was staying in Idaho before his wedding in Sun Valley.

The medallion Argyros used, which bears some resemblance to a law enforcement badge, is given to major donors by the Sheriff’s Advisory Council, a private nonprofit organization that supports local law enforcement.

The council’s attorney, Darryl Wold, said the council has given out the medallions to major donors for about 10 years and has only occasionally had to ask for one back, usually when it was being misused for identification.

He said the council’s board members were awaiting the outcome of Argyros’ court case before deciding whether to ask for the return of Argyros’ medallion. He said he expects Idaho authorities to return the medallion to the organization, which will decide on a course of action at its next meeting.

He said the council still distributes the medallions and has no plans to stop.