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Former Idaho GOP Chair Jonathan Parker Arrested Again During Court Hearing

James Dawson
/
Boise State Public Radio
Jonathan Parker was arrested during his June 14 hearing in Boise.

Former Idaho Republican Party Chairman Jonathan Parker was taken into custody again on a misdemeanor trespassing warrant during his court appearance on a felony stalking charge Friday morning.

It’s not immediately clear what the trespassing charge is related to. Parker has been booked into the Ada County Jail and will go back before a judge June 17.

Parker was arrested last month for first-degree stalking. Police say he was wearing a wig, hiding in the bushes and masturbating at the same apartment complex where his estranged wife lived.

His wife, Kelly Parker, filed for divorce in March, shortly after Jonathan Parker stepped down as chairman from the state GOP. Those records have since been sealed.

During his initial appearance in court earlier this month, Parker’s lawyer, former congressional candidate and Attorney General David Leroy, called the situation a “grand misunderstanding”.

Leroy says Parker was going to a costume party at the complex and was peering through windows to scare a different woman.

Parker posted the $80,000 bond a few days after his initial court appearance. He was also ordered to stay 500 feet away from his estranged wife.

In a letter explaining his departure from the state party, he wrote, “Serving as your Chairman, while maintaining a full-time job and being a fully engaged Father has been harder than I imagined, so much so that I have reluctantly decided that I should no longer continue to serve as Chairman of the Idaho Republican Party so that I can focus on the priorities I place above all others.”

First-degree stalking carries a prison sentence of up to five years and a fine of up to $10,000.

His next court appearance on the stalking charge is scheduled for Aug. 16.

This is a developing story. Please check back frequently for updates.

Follow James Dawson on Twitter @RadioDawson for more local news.

Copyright 2019 Boise State Public Radio

I cover politics and a bit of everything else for Boise State Public Radio. Outside of public meetings, you can find me fly fishing, making cool things out of leather or watching the Seattle Mariners' latest rebuilding season. If you have a tip, please get in touch!

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