A Bonneville County district judge has refused to dismiss felony charges against a 22-year-old man accused of an aggravated assault outside a local charter school, rejecting defense claims that a county prosecutor misled the defendant about his rights during the investigation.
District Judge Jason Walker denied the motion to dismiss charges against Aaron Murdoch, who faces one count of felony aggravated assault tied to a February 2024 incident in the parking lot of Compass Academy in Idaho Falls. The ruling keeps the case on track toward a jury trial scheduled for August 18, with a pre-trial conference set for July 14.
What Happened at Compass Academy
According to court records, the incident unfolded on February 12, 2024, when Murdoch allegedly attempted to shoot Taylor Aughenbaugh and at least one other man in the school parking lot. Prosecutors contend the assault occurred without intent to kill. During the confrontation, Murdoch himself was shot in the leg by Aughenbaugh. Murdoch was formally charged in March 2024, and if convicted, he faces a maximum prison sentence of five years.
Defense Claims of Prosecutorial Misconduct
Defense attorney Mike Winchester filed the dismissal motion in September, arguing that Bonneville County Prosecutor Randy Neal had implied Murdoch would receive immunity in exchange for speaking with prosecutors — a claim Judge Walker ultimately found unconvincing.
Winchester alleged Neal’s conduct violated two provisions of Idaho’s Professional Rules of Conduct: Rule 3.8, which governs the special responsibilities of prosecutors, and Rule 4.3, which addresses communications with unrepresented parties. The defense argued those alleged violations were serious enough to warrant throwing out the charges entirely.
Murdoch, in his own words, described interactions with officials prior to his grand jury appearance. “Then they started getting into my rights as a victim, and they went over how the grand jury was going to go and how that whole process goes,” he said. He also recalled being told, “There was nothing to charge me with except for possibly brandishing.”
Those accounts formed the backbone of the defense’s argument that Murdoch had been misled — or at least left with a misleading impression — about his legal exposure before he agreed to cooperate with investigators.
Judge’s Reasoning
Judge Walker was not persuaded. In denying the motion, he found that Murdoch had been notified on multiple occasions — through both subpoena and grand jury officials — that he was not required to testify in any matter where doing so could incriminate him. That repeated notification, the judge found, undermined the claim that any misconduct had deprived Murdoch of a fair understanding of his rights.
Megan Lentz, the Victim/Witness Coordinator for the Bonneville County Prosecutor’s Office, was identified in connection with the pre-trial proceedings.
The ruling is a setback for the defense but does not end Murdoch’s legal options before trial. Winchester could pursue other pre-trial motions or raise the misconduct allegations in a different procedural context. For now, however, the felony aggravated assault charge remains intact.
Cases involving public trust in Bonneville County’s legal institutions have drawn attention in recent months, including disputes over court records access and evidentiary questions in high-profile prosecutions across eastern Idaho. For those following similar criminal proceedings, a recent ruling on hearsay evidence and witness testimony standards in an Idaho murder case offers useful context on how district courts are handling complex pre-trial motions statewide.
What Comes Next
With the dismissal motion now off the table, both sides will turn their attention to the July 14 pre-trial conference, where the court and attorneys are expected to address remaining pretrial matters and finalize trial logistics. The jury trial is scheduled to begin August 18. If convicted of felony aggravated assault, Murdoch faces up to five years in an Idaho state prison. The Bonneville County Prosecutor’s Office, led by Randy Neal, will continue handling the prosecution.
For additional statewide court coverage, visit Idaho News.