Friday, June 6, 2008

Self-proclaimed prophet misses court hearing

Judge orders arrest warrant for domestic-violence suspect


By TERRY SMITH
Express Staff Writer

Christopher Pothier

An arrest warrant was ordered Wednesday afternoon for Christopher D. Pothier, a former Hailey resident who claims to a "prophet for Jesus" and is accused of severely beating his girlfriend to make her repent of her alleged sins.

Judge Casey Robinson ordered the warrant after Pothier failed to appear for a 2:30 p.m. preliminary hearing in Blaine County Magistrate Court in Hailey.

The suspect remained at large Thursday. Blaine County court records suggest that he has been living with either his mother in Twin Falls or a sister in Hagerman.

Pothier is charged with felony "domestic battery resulting in traumatic injury" for allegedly severely beating his 27-year-old girlfriend at the couple's home in Gannett on the evening of April 22 and into the following morning. A probable cause affidavit filed in the case by the Blaine County Sheriff's Office alleges that Pothier beat the woman in the presence of her 5- and 7-year-old children to force her to "repent in front of these children for being a whore."

Pothier was also charged last summer with kidnapping, rape and three other felonies for alleged crimes against the same woman. Those charges were dismissed after the woman notified the Blaine County Prosecuting Attorney's Office that the "allegations were blown out of proportion" and that she would not testify against Pothier.

The woman, however, was prepared to testify Wednesday about Pothier's latest alleged crime against her. She waited nervously outside the courtroom with her sister, who was also ready to tell the court about events she says she witnessed regarding the alleged crime.

But Pothier was a no show for the preliminary hearing, a courtroom procedure wherein a magistrate court judge considers evidence and determines if there's enough of it to order that the case be transferred to district court for further prosecution.

Public defender Douglas Werth told the court that his client had car problems between Twin Falls and Shoshone while in route to the hearing. Werth said Pothier telephoned him at 11:15 a.m. to explain the alleged problem.

"He said he was trying to see if he could get the car to start to be here for court," Werth said. "Based on the statements he has made to me, he has made an effort to be here."

Werth asked for a continuance, but Judge Robinson declined.

"He needs to be here," said Robinson, who normally presides in Gooding County and was assigned the case after several other judge disqualifications.

Robinson ordered the arrest warrant, ordered forfeiture of an $80,000 bond previously posted by Pothier and set a new bond at $200,000.

"If he shows up in 15 minutes, we'll pick it up," said Robinson, who waited the full 15 minutes before leaving the Hailey court building.

Wednesday's scheduled court appearance was not the first hearing for Pothier that has been contrary to the norms of Blaine County Magistrate Court.

His initial court appearance on April 23 had to be continued after Pothier, according to court records, "drooled and screamed" and had to be taken into and out of court bound to a chair mounted on a cart.

Blaine County Magistrate Court Judge R. Ted Israel ordered a mental evaluation for the suspect before disqualifying himself from the case.

The hearing was subsequently held on May 1 and Magistrate Court Judge Mark Ingram, who normally presides in Lincoln County, allowed bond after Pothier, according to court records, "was cooperative and helpful."

Court records further state that Pothier has several times claimed to be a prophet.

Pothier, wearing what was described as a "religious sort of robe," paid a visit to the Idaho Mountain Express on the morning of Friday, May 16, and dropped off a stack of flyers, in which he claimed to be a "Prophet for Jesus."

Written on the flyers is an almost correct quotation from the Bible, John 8:36.

"Therefore if the son makes you free, you shall be free indeed," Pothier wrote.

The flyers further refer to a Myspace blog site where Pothier has written numerous lengthy essays quoting from the Bible and other religious sources. The blog site also has a link to Pothier's online business where he sells health foods and nutritional supplements.

Before leaving the Express, Pothier told receptionists that, "I am not Terry Smith."

Express staff puzzled over the statement but were unable to discern its meaning.




 Local Weather 
Search archives:


Copyright © 2024 Express Publishing Inc.   Terms of Use   Privacy Policy
All Rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Express Publishing Inc. is prohibited. 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.