Lapwai Man Sentenced for Escape and Probation Violations

COEUR D'ALENE B Solomon Elias Wheeler, 34, of Lapwai, Idaho, was sentenced today in United States District Court to a total of 13 months in prison, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge ordered Wheeler to serve seven months in prison for escape, consecutive to six months in prison for two supervised release violations.

In July 2012, Wheeler was sentenced to eight months in prison and five years supervised release for violating federal sex offender registration laws and giving a false statement to an FBI agent.  In June 2014, Wheeler was alleged to have violated his supervised release and was placed back into federal custody.  Later that month, Wheeler petitioned for a medical furlough.  The court granted the medical furlough, finding that Wheeler needed a medical procedure.  The court ordered Wheeler to report back to jail in early July 2014, following treatment.  Wheeler did not return to jail and remained out of custody until his arrest in September 2014.              

The case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service with the assistance of the Nez Perce Tribal Police Department.