Jamisha Nevarez seeks post-conviction relief

By Mike Weland

A Bonners Ferry woman whose brief but tumultuous term as CEO of the Bonners Ferry Senior Hospitality Center riled much of the community last year filed a petition for post-conviction relief August 1, alleging a “deliberate and unlawful conspiracy” involving more than 40 community members who engaged “in a systematic campaign of stalking, harassment, defamation, and unlawful surveillance, carried out in coordination with law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and other government officials violating her civil rights under color of state law, in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983, by targeting her throughout 2024, and as late as actively ongoing into 2025.”

Idaho’s Post-Conviction Procedure Act provides a civil remedy for criminal offenders sentenced to cruel or unusual or illegal sentences. The offender must prove, by a preponderance of evidence, the allegations upon which the request for post-conviction relief is based.

After losing her job at the senior center May 31 after two months, Jamisha Michelle Nevarez, also known as Misha Davis and by several other aliases, was criminally charged on three separate occasions in June, 2024; on June 3 for trespass and resisting arrest, on June 20 for resisting arrest and on June 27, for the most serious, “threats and other improper influence in official and political matters,” a felony under Idaho’s bribery and corruption statutes that carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, for alleged threats made against Boundary County Prosecutor Andrakay Pluid.

In December, after 167 days in jail, the two counts of resisting arrest were dismissed and the felony was reduced to disturbing the peace, a misdemeanor, to which Nevarez pled guilty, as she did to the June 3 trespass charge. She was sentenced to time served, plus $157.50 costs, as well as 13 discretionary days in jail during her two-years supervised probation.

In her petition for post-conviction relief, Nevarez, who is representing herself, contends that, “When the totality of the circumstances is viewed in context, the record demonstrates not merely isolated procedural errors or subjective bias, but rather a coordinated, deliberate, and unlawful conspiracy by state actors – including but not limited to the Boundary County Prosecutor’s Office, the Bonners Ferry Police Department, the Boundary County Sheriff’s Office, and associated community members-to target, silence, and criminalize Petitioner for her protected speech, whistleblower activity, and refusal to remain silent in the face of systemic abuse. The evidence clearly demonstrates a cohesive pattern of retaliatory conduct, not random or isolated decisions. Coordinated pattern of retaliation and conspiracy false and manufactured charges: “stage setting” by officials.”

She goes on:

“The pattern of conduct by Prosecutor Pluid, the Bonners Ferry Police Department, and affiliated community members such as Court Clerk Glenda Poston, BCSO Sheriff Dave Kramer, and others is not only retaliatory in effect but criminal in intent. These acts include:

• “Warrantless surveillance and recordings in spaces where Petitioner had a reasonable expectation of privacy (e.g., during UAs in bathrooms);
• “Submission of false affidavits and sworn statements under penalty of perjury;
• “Manipulation of court processes, including suppression of courtroom audio and selective exclusion of affidavits/witnesses;
• “Public defamation and tainting of the jury pool via leaks and defamatory press coordinated with the Bonners Ferry Herald;
• “Boundary County Prosecutor, Andrakay Pluid’s, political theatrics throughout court proceedings – omitting exculpatory evidence while portraying herself as the ‘victim’ of Petitioner;
• “Failure to conflict out the prosecution despite multiple ethical and statutory grounds for recusal.”

Her arraignment hearing June 14, 2024, was presided over by Kootenai County District Court Judge Timothy Van Valin, who noted “looks like everyone DQ’d themselves and put her in front of me,” meaning disqualified themselves. In this case, Nevarez has already petitioned for Judge Susie Jenkins to be disqualified for presiding, though the petition was subsequently withdrawn.

The list of alleged miscreants and witnesses named is a veritable North Idaho who’s who; Prosecutor Andrakay Pluid, deputy prosecutor Bill Wilson, Bonner County domestic violence advocate Darci Haug, former husband Jasper Nauman, Bonners Ferry Mayor Rick Alonzo, former Boundary County Sheriff Dave Kramer and Undersheriff Rich Stephens, Bonners Ferry Police Chief Willie Cowell, assistant chief Jeremy Garrett, Sheriff’s Deputy Anthony Jeppeson, his wife Tami, administrator of Bonners Ferry Rants, Raves & Rabbit Holes, Boundary County Sheriff’s personnel Robert Pew, David Wion, Karl Green, Kristi Campbell, former deputy Dave Schuman, VFW Commander and Senior Hospitality Center Board Chairman Ben Apo, board member Mark Hatten and current director Linda Lederhos, Boundary County Commissioner Ben Robertson, Clerk Glenda Poston, county residents Gerald Higgs and Christopher Messenbrink, the late Danielle Ahrens, Adrienne Norris, owner of Boundary County Watchman, attorneys Donald Terry and Dana Bowes, former senior center director Brooke Blagrove, employee Kim Morris and bookkeeper Kristi Turner, David Sims, Dave Walter, April Isaac, Alisa Walker and others.

“This Court must not allow the rule of law to be weaponized against a citizen attempting to hold public officials accountable. Nevarez concludes. “The cumulative weight of due process violations, fabricated charges, misuse of mental health statutes, unlawful surveillance, and retaliatory prosecution compels judicial intervention.”

She requests:

• Vacatur of all convictions entered under CR1 1-24-685, CR1 1-24-753, and CR1 1-24-787;
• Immediate expungement of the related records and pretrial conditions;
• Judicial recommendation for independent investigation into the conduct of Prosecutor Pluid, Deputies Jeppesen and Wion, Officers Isaac and Walker, and associated parties;
• Referral to the Idaho State Bar and Judicial Council for review of ethical violations;
• Declaration that Petitioner’s constitutional and civil rights were violated under color of law.

A petition hearing before Judge Jenson has been set for 1 p.m. Friday, December 5. The venue is not specified in online court records.

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Related 9B.News articles, 2024, by Mike Weland except as noted:

1. April 6: Seniors Hospitality Center in crisis, community asked to rally
2. April 10: Patrons optimistic after Seniors Center meeting, services starting to return
3. April 24: Seniors Center lines up professionals to help steer the ship
4. April 30: Seniors Hospitality Center reopening Monday
5. May 23: Clarifying membership policy at the Seniors Hospitality Center, by Misha Davis
6. May 28: You without sin, cast the first stone
7. May 31: Davis terminated from Seniors Center, jailed
8. June 18: Warrant issued for arrest of Jamesha Nevarez, aka Misha Davis
9. June 20: Nevarez back in custody
10. June 23: Concerns raised regarding Nevarez arraignment
11. June 29: Nevarez jailed again –Seniors Center enjoys smooth sailing
12. July 1: Nevarez remains jailed after initial hearing
13. July 16: Nevarez bound over, arraignment August 7
14. December 21: Nevarez files $3.2- million tort
15. December 21: Misha Davis free after plea deal