Tribe Ousts Bia Police Amid Arrests Leaders’ Relatives Are Facing Various Charges; Tribal Officials Say Timing Is Just Coincidental

The 18-year-old son of Coeur d’Alene Tribal Chairman Ernie Stensgar was sentenced Monday to 18 months in federal prison for his part in a Plummer, Idaho, burglary spree.

Joseph Reno Stensgar, who in a local history book once epitomized the tribe’s hopes for its youth, also was put on probation for three years and ordered to pay $6,671 in fines and restitution.

“You went in and destroyed and took from people. You’re going to pay,” said U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge.

Joseph Stensgar isn’t the only tribal leader’s relative in trouble with the law.

Thomas Aripa, nephew of Tribal Vice Chairman Lawrence Aripa, is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 26 on unrelated burglary charges.

Vance Campbell, a relative of Tribal Councilman Norm Campbell, has been charged with shooting a man in the leg during a party at tribal housing in Plummer.

Two weeks ago, the tribal council voted to do away with the Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement office that helped investigate these cases. Instead, the tribe wants to establish its own police force.

“In the past, my feelings have been that they apparently weren’t in such a hurry,” said BIA Sgt. Michael LeMieux, an Oneida Indian who heads the Plummer law enforcement office. “In the last nine months, it’s all of a sudden become a front-page issue.”

But the timing, tribal officials say, is purely coincidental. The arrests of tribal leaders’ relatives played no role in the decision to eliminate the BIA program, they said.

“Absolutely not,” said 13-year council veteran Norma Peone. “Not that that couldn’t happen at certain times in certain places, but this is not one of them.”

Peone said the council has been planning the policing change for several years.

Under federal law, tribes can take the money spent on local BIA law enforcement and use it to pay for their own police force.

Peone said the Coeur d’Alenes felt they could hire more officers with the same amount of money. The BIA office now includes three officers and a clerk.

“I can’t see how three people could possibly protect this reservation and protect our people,” she said.

The tribe has already taken over many tasks formerly done by the BIA, she said, including forestry, misdemeanor court, health services, financial record-keeping and education.

“It (taking over law enforcement duties) is a big responsibility and we haven’t taken it lightly,” she said. “We just felt like it was time. Overall, people can see the progressiveness of the tribe.”

Tribal leaders, she said, are grieving over the crimes, but don’t fault law enforcement for doing its job.

“They said, ‘It hurts me, but I’ve told my family members that they’ve made some mistakes and must pay their debts,”’ she said.

On Monday, the judge warned Joseph Stensgar that unless he changes his life drastically, he’ll spend most of his life in prison.

Stensgar has a long record of violence, and drug and alcohol problems, Lodge said.

“A seven-by-10 cell is not much to look forward to,” the judge said. “But that’s a decision you make. You send yourself.”

Defense attorney Brian Thie said Stensgar’s been clean and sober for four months, while behind bars awaiting trial.

“I know I deserve to be punished for my crimes, but I want to take it like a man, and when I get out be a father to my son, and a son to my father,” Stensgar told the judge.

Lodge wasn’t moved, saying Stensgar’s words conflicted with his criminal record.

“When I looked at that juvenile record, I was shocked,” the judge said.

He said Stensgar had brought dishonor to his father and family.

“Think about your tribe and your father and others that suffer probably more than you while you’re being punished,” Lodge said.

Afterward, Ernie Stensgar twice embraced his son, who kissed him and was led away. The tribal chairman declined comment.

Joseph Stensgar was the third Coeur d’Alene tribal member sentenced by Lodge Monday.

The other crimes were murder and rape, both also due partly to drug or alcohol problems.

“I think this is an epidemic,” said Lodge.

“I think things are out of control and people aren’t being held accountable.”

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