COEUR D’ALENE - Jay Christopher Matt, 38, of Desmet, Idaho, pleaded guilty to witness tampering, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today. Sentencing for Matt is set for April 9, 2020, before U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Coeur d’Alene.
According to court records, Matt was initially charged in federal court with multiple counts related to a domestic violence incident that occurred in Desmet in August 2019. While pending trial, law enforcement officers discovered that Matt was contacting potential witnesses in the case, including the victim, and made efforts to persuade witnesses to not cooperate with the ongoing investigation, not show up to trial, or change their story in order to help Matt evade prosecution. Based on this conduct, Matt was charged with witness tampering and ultimately plead guilty.
Witness tampering is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to three years.
This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation, Coeur d’Alene Tribal Police Department, Benewah County Sheriff’s Office, and Bonner County Sheriff’s Office.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
