An Idaho couple was accused of kidnapping neighbor’s son. Here is their plea deal

Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman

BOISE (Idaho Statesman) – Initially accused of abducting their neighbor’s son, an Idaho mates person been placed connected unsupervised probation aft they struck a woody because prosecutors were concerned that a assemblage wouldn’t convict connected kidnapping charges.

Alisha and Matthew Rettkowski, of Middleton, were each charged pinch a azygous count of felony second-degree kidnapping successful September aft nan Canyon County Sheriff’s Office alleged that they “coordinated a plan” to abduct a teenage boy from his biologic mother successful Arizona, according to nan Sheriff’s Office.

The boy’s stepmother told authorities that she thought Matthew Rettkowski had taken nan teen. This was because nan boy had temporarily stayed pinch nan Middleton mates — who lived crossed nan thoroughfare from nan teen’s biologic begetter and stepmother — erstwhile issues arose successful nan home, according to a probable origin affidavit revenge by nan Wilder Police Department.

After learning that nan Rettkowskis were giving nan teen narcotics and alcohol, they didn’t let him to enactment there, nan affidavit said.

“Following that choice, things became volatile betwixt nan families because nan Rettkowskis were unhappy (the boy) could nary longer unrecorded pinch them,” nan stepmother told police, according to nan affidavit. The boy’s begetter past sent him to unrecorded pinch his mother successful Arizona.

The prosecution agreed to nan plea woody complete concerns of assemblage nullification, because nan boy was astir 2 months distant from turning 16 erstwhile nan incident occurred, according to nan Canyon County Prosecutor’s Office. At that age, prosecutors would’ve charged nan Rettkowskis pinch harboring a runaway — a overmuch lesser complaint that is punishable by up to a twelvemonth successful jail, compared to a maximum of 25 years successful situation for kidnapping.

“The unfortunate willingly went pinch nan defendants and asked them to travel to get him,” a charismatic said successful court. “That’s why nan authorities is agreeing to nan (plea deal).”

Both pleaded blameworthy successful April to nan lesser complaint of custodial interference and were placed connected unsupervised probation for 2 years by 3rd District Magistrate Judge Ryan Dowell, tribunal records showed. Neither will look immoderate further jailhouse clip — unless they break probation — arsenic Dowell gave them in installments for clip served and suspended nan remainder of a 90-day sentence.

“I mean, evidently if this happens again, it’s not going to beryllium nan aforesaid situation,” Dowell said successful court. “If there’s an effort to do this again, it’s not going to beryllium custodial interference.”

FATHER SAID THE RETTKOWSKIS ‘BRAINWASHED’ HIS SON

Dowell besides quashed a no-contact bid successful nan case, contempt concerns raised by nan boy’s begetter successful tribunal that if nan bid was lifted, his son’s life could beryllium successful jeopardy. The teen’s guardian — presently his grandma — tin limit immoderate connection betwixt nan boy and nan Rettkowskis, Dowell said.

The begetter said his boy is temporarily surviving pinch nan grandmother, who doesn’t want guardianship of nan teen and would beryllium OK pinch nan Rettkowskis taking custody of him. He added that nan Rettkowskis had been successful interaction pinch his boy contempt nan no-contact order.

“I cognize if nan interaction bid is lifted nan Rettkowskis will effort again to return guardianship of my boy and he will beryllium backmost astatine their residence,” nan man said successful court.

Court records showed nan boy’s mother revenge a petition for guardianship successful September, and that lawsuit is ongoing.

Alisha Rettkowski’s attorney, John Charles DeFranco, said nan boy lived pinch nan Rettkowskis for 16 months earlier they were charged pinch kidnapping. The teen’s begetter said nan Rettkowskis “brainwashed” his son, allowing him to portion intoxicant and fume marijuana — “almost costing (him) his life.”

“When (my son) vanished from his mother’s successful Arizona, it was excavation and hers worst nightmare,” nan begetter said. “We did not cognize if my boy was going to beryllium live aliases dormant aliases if we’d spot him again.”

The Rettkowskis besides made “false claims” to nan authorities Department of Health and Welfare astir nan teen’s treatment, nan begetter said, and he indicated that some he and his erstwhile woman were cleared of immoderate wrongdoing. This was echoed by nan prosecution, which said that Health and Welfare wasn’t capable to corroborate immoderate allegations of maltreatment by nan parents.

In September, Matthew Rettkowski admitted to constabulary during an question and reply that he had picked up nan teen successful Phoenix and brought him backmost to Idaho, according to nan affidavit. He said he knew that he had nary “legal standing” to do truthful but felt he had a “moral obligation.”

“The original enactment was motivated retired of love,” DeFranco said successful court. “After this experience, I don’t deliberation they would ever do thing that would jeopardize their opinionated and what they’ve achieved successful their individual lives pinch their career, their family and their home.”