Man charged in Idaho Falls murder expected to change plea to guilty

IDAHO FALLS — A 23-year-old man charged pinch a sadistic location penetration execution is expected to plead blameworthy successful speech for a maximum life sentence.

According to tribunal records, Lance Broncho signed a plea statement Wednesday, agreeing to plead blameworthy to nan first-degree execution of 51-year-old Eric Leask and felony aggravated artillery utilizing a deadly weapon.

In exchange, nan prosecution has agreed to driblet nan remaining charges of felony robbery, felony burglary, felony unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and 2 felony enhancements for nan usage of a deadly limb successful nan committee of a felony.

RELATED | Man accused of 4th Street execution allegedly collapsed into nan incorrect house

The prosecution agreed not to prosecute nan decease punishment and will urge life successful situation arsenic nan maximum condemnation for some charges. They will reason for a minimum of 35 years for nan execution complaint and a minimum of 25 years for nan aggravated artillery charge. Broncho will work together to salary afloat restitution for each charged and uncharges crimes.

If Broncho withdraws nan caller plea aliases violates nan rules of nan plea agreement, nan authorities could put nan decease punishment backmost connected nan table.

The plea statement is not binding connected nan court, meaning nan judge does not person to work together to either party’s recommendations for sentencing.

Broncho is expected to look successful tribunal for a position convention connected July 22, and a alteration of plea proceeding has not yet been scheduled.

Background

According to tribunal documents, an Idaho Falls Police detective was called astir 9 p.m. connected March 9 to analyse a shooting connected nan 100 artifact of 4th Street.

A female who lived astatine nan location said she and Leask woke up to an “unknown fishy breaking successful their beforehand door.”

Broncho reportedly started fighting pinch nan woman’s son, and Leask jumped successful to take sides him.

The female said Broncho had a weapon and “face tattoos adjacent his eyes.” She told nan detective she saw him sprout nan weapon aggregate times.

RELATED | Man charged pinch execution pursuing play shooting successful Idaho Falls

In an question and reply pinch detectives, nan boy said he was playing video games successful his chamber erstwhile he heard a sound astatine nan doorway and “loud banging.”

Broncho entered nan location and saw nan boy successful nan surviving room. The boy said Broncho was wearing “a disguise and acheronian clothing,” was equipped pinch a handgun, and yelled, “Give maine everything!”

Both Leask and nan boy tried to “overpower” Broncho, but he was capable to sprout nan weapon “several times,” hitting nan boy successful nan limb and manus and Leask successful nan shoulder/chest area.

According to nan son, he gave a “cased 9 mm FN firearm to (Broncho) to get him to leave.” Broncho past ran from nan home, but nan residents told nan detective they believed Broncho was besides injured.

Both Leask and nan boy were transported to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center by Idaho Falls ambulance.

Leask later died from his injuries. The boy was discharged.

Hours later, constabulary learned of a man who had been “shot successful nan manus and requested thief from a friend to get nan slug retired of his manus and assistance him successful getting retired of nan area,” according to constabulary reports.

Around 11 p.m., investigators recovered Broncho astatine nan Teton Mesa Apartments connected 885 Lomax Street.

Two of nan group successful nan flat initially refused to travel out, starting a standoff pinch nan SWAT team. A “chemical irritant” was introduced into nan apartment, according to tribunal documents, and Broncho surrendered.

Lance Broncho during his territory tribunal arraignment. | Kaitlyn Hart, EastIdahoNews.com

When taken into custody, he still had a slug successful his hand, truthful he was taken to EIRMC for treatment.

RELATED | Man claims innocence successful 4th Street sidesplitting and location invasion

At nan hospital, Broncho allegedly told officers that earlier successful nan evening, he had gone to nan location to get marijuana.

According to constabulary reports Broncho admitted he had “been involved” successful a disturbance astatine nan location wherever he had been shot.

The Idaho Falls Police Department says they judge Broncho targeted nan incorrect house.

“It does not look that Broncho had immoderate relationship to knowledge of nan residents that would support his presumption that he could get marijuana from them,” an IFPD news merchandise said astatine nan time. “Investigators judge that Broncho mistakenly targeted nan house.”

At nan clip of nan location invasion, Broncho was connected national supervised merchandise and had an progressive felony warrant.

In July 2020, a expansive assemblage indicted Broncho for national felony battle causing superior wounded for stabbing a man successful nan tummy connected nan Fort Hall reservation. He was sentenced to complete 3 years and 4 months successful jail.

Broncho was convicted again successful April 2021 of felony battle resulting successful superior bodily wounded connected nan Fort Hall reservation.

In Nov. 2023, Broncho was arrested and charged pinch felony aggravated artillery aft allegedly attacking different man pinch a shot bat. According to Bonneville County Prosecuting Attorney Randy Neal, nan charges were dismissed owed to a deficiency of grounds from witnesses.