Two plead guilty after alleged beating

Two men accused of breaking into another man’s home and beating him with a club have pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges.

Coeur d’Alene resident Chance L. Preston pleaded guilty Friday to battery, unlawful entry, possession of burglary tools and intimidating a witness, all misdemeanors.

Jeremy R. Guffey, 31, of Coeur d’Alene, pleaded guilty on Jan. 8 to battery and unlawful entry.

Police responded Dec. 16 to the Coeur d’Alene residence of a man who said three people had attacked him and threatened to kill him.

The man told police he’d argued with his ex-girlfriend earlier in the day. He said Preston came to the residence after the argument, accompanied by two other men.

Preston allegedly entered the man’s bedroom and told him to leave the home. When the man refused, he said Preston began to strike him with a club-like device while the other men punched and kicked him.

The victim's face was bruised and covered in blood, police said.

Several hours later, the man contacted police again. He said the men who beat him were attempting to kick in the door.

Preston and Guffey were walking away from the back door when police arrived, according to court documents.

Police held the men at gunpoint until backup arrived. Both were arrested at the scene.

Guffey was previously convicted of aggravated assault in Kootenai County in 2014.

Originally charged with aggravated battery, attempted burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to commit aggravated battery, Preston and Guffey reportedly pleaded guilty to lesser charges as part of an agreement.

Both are scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 1.