Idaho Falls man pleads not guilty to homicide
Published at | Updated at
RIGBY — An Idaho Falls man pleaded not guilty to killing a man at a Jefferson County home last fall.
Jesse Gentle, 21, entered the not guilty plea at his arraignment on a first-degree murder charge Monday afternoon. Gentle is accused of shooting and killing 72-year-old Merle Jay Sorensen, also of Idaho Falls, while at a relative’s house on Nov. 17, 2020.
RELATED | Man arrested for murder allegedly used bleach to clean up the scene
Gentle is now scheduled to appear for a jury trial on Sept. 20 at the Jefferson County Courthouse.
Last month, Magistrate Judge Robert Crowley determined Jefferson County Prosecutors had enough evidence to advance the case to District Court after a two-day preliminary hearing. At that hearing, Gentle’s aunt, a witness of the alleged slaying, testified along with investigators.
RELATED | Rigby first-degree murder case moves to district court
After Sorensen was shot, Gentle is alleged to have moved the body and tried to use bleach to clean the crime scene, according to charging documents obtained by EastIdahoNews.com
A medical examiner said two fatal shots caused Sorensen’s death and prosecutors argued because it would’ve taken the shooter twice to pull the trigger of the revolver, the slaying was premeditated. Defense attorney Jim Archibald disagreed, saying there was no evidence of premeditation or malice.
Although Gentle is accused of a crime it does not necessarily mean he committed it. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.