Assault charges cite county jail fight

Assault charges filed Monday against a Whitman County jail inmate included a detailed account of an alleged assault that took place in the women's section of the Whitman County jail Jan. 24.

Randi Keene, 35, was charged with assaulting inmate Ashley Myers, 30. Myers, who is listed in the formal charge as a "criminal justice participant," has been in jail since Sept. 29 after she was arrested for allegedly fatally shooting a Coeur d'Alene man who was in a car at the intersection of Airport Road and Highway 26 across from the fairground.

Colfax Officer Perry Tate and County Corrections Officer Dana Meserve are listed as victims in formal charges of third-degree assault.

The investigation report said Meserve responded to a fight in the yellow unit of the jail and allegedly found Keene holding Myers up against a wall.

The report alleged Keene was observed punching Myers and holding a hand across her throat.

Jailers had trouble getting Keene under control and Colfax Officers Perry Tate and Dennis Yunin responded to the scene to assist.

Meserve and Tate were allegedly kicked by Keene while they attempted to get Keene face down and restrained with handcuffs.

Myers reported she sustained scratches and a bloody nose. Myers allegedly told deputies later that Keene on several occasions threatened to kill her. She reportedly told jailers she didn't believe the threats were serious.

At one point, Myers said, Keene told her, "I'll show you a murder."

Myers pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the pending murder charge and is now undergoing psychological examinations.

Keene has already lost her "good time credit" as a result of the incident.

Inmates normally get a third of their actual sentence dropped as a result of good-time credit. Keene has been serving a year-long sentence in the jail, and the good-time loss in her case amounts to four months.

Keene's sentencing last July was unique because she opted to serve the year-long term rather than undergo evaluation and treatment for drug use.

She was originally sentenced Aug. 4 to a year in jail with all but 30 days suspended on the condition that she get an evaluation for drug use and comply with treatment. On Sept. 14, she appeared in court on an order and she told the court she opted for the year in jail rather then undergoing the evaluation and treatment.

Keene's release date is now Aug. 16, a day before she was booked into jail in August, 2018.

Keene has been formally charged with two counts of third degree assault involving a Colfax officer and the jailer and a charge of harassment of Myers.