Bonneville County Prosecutor Randy Neal is now seeking the death penalty and has revoked a plea agreement for Lance Broncho due to violations of the agreement over the past months.
Broncho, of Shelley, was charged with felony first-degree murder in the death of Eric Leask, felony aggravated battery, felony robbery, felony burglary and felony unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He also received two felony enhancement charges, which adds 15 years to the first-degree murder and aggravated battery charges.
If found guilty, Broncho faces up to life in prison with the potential of being sentenced to death.
In a notice of withdrawal of a plea agreement filed by Neal, it alleges that Broncho violated paragraph seven of the agreement of the defendant’s acknowledgment and consent section. The notice said there are three instances on March 14 when Broncho was found in possession of an improvised weapon violation while in correctional facilities.
Then, on May 9, Broncho was found in possession of a controlled substance, and on July 6, the defendant was found in possession of a tattoo gun, the notice said.
Broncho was also charged with assault on personnel in the incident on July 6, according to court records. He was charged with three felony counts of assault or battery upon certain personnel and felony contraband.
In this case, Broncho faces 20 years in prison if he’s found guilty.
According to the affidavit, Broncho had been involved in passing items between cells, including his cell. This resulted in that cell being searched where medications and a tattoo gun was found. Broncho and his roommate were told to stand to be escorted from the dorm where his cell was.
He then allegedly struck a deputy in the head with his hands. Broncho was physically restrained to the floor by five deputies. Once restrained, he was escorted from the dorm into a housing control area.
Another deputy wrote in the report that Broncho had attempted to head butt him and another deputy. This resulted in Broncho being taken to the ground where he was injured. Broncho had to get stitches in his lips.
The deputy who reviewed the initial report stated that a video of the incident was also available. The video shows Broncho standing up from the table he was sitting at and punching the deputy twice in the head before being taken to the ground.
The reviewing deputy attempted to speak with Broncho on July 10 but declined. Then, on July 11, the deputy received an email about a letter taken from Broncho’s cell where he bragged about the incident.
Broncho wrote that he had “socked up” the deputies and “head butted” another until they took him to the ground. Broncho also wrote that if the deputies keep disrespecting him, “Next time, ima smoke 1 lol.”
The reviewing deputy who read the letter stated it was the start of speculation that Broncho was involved in a conspiracy of smuggling drugs into the jail.
A status conference for Broncho in his first-degree murder charge has been scheduled for 10:15 a.m. Aug. 1 with Seventh District Judge Michael Whyte. A preliminary hearing is also scheduled at 1 p.m. Aug. 2 for his assault on jail personnel and contraband case, as well as his other contraband case from March 14.
On March 9, Idaho Falls Police were dispatched to a home in the 100 block of 4th Street after a call came in about a burglary in progress that devolved into a shooting.
Two residents fought Broncho, and he shot both of them. One of them was shot in the leg and hand, and the other was shot in the chest.
During an IFPD neighborhood meeting on March 21, Lt. Darin Moulton said Broncho had targeted the wrong house on 4th Street and wasn’t targeting that family.
“Once he did what he did to break into the house, he was in it to win it at that point in time,” Moulton said.
Erick Leask, 51, was the one shot in the chest who died from his injuries. Blood at the scene also indicated that Broncho had been hurt in the brawl with residents.
A few hours later, officers located Broncho in an apartment unit at the Teton Mesa Apartments in the 800 block of Lomax St. Broncho had asked for help from a man to get a bullet out of his hand and to get him out of the area.
Broncho refused to exit the apartment, and SWAT was called in, starting a standoff. Officers evacuated neighbors before SWAT used tear gas to get Broncho out of the apartment. Broncho surrendered shortly after.
Broncho was taken to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for the gunshot wound he sustained. At the hospital, he told officers he was there to “obtain marijuana” at the home.
A family member Broncho had a phone conversation with told them that another family member worked with Leask. Broncho said Leask was a family friend.
Broncho said in a video call with friends that Leask was a family friend. He said “Ohh, then you know what? Guess, guess who I killed? A family friend of mine,” Broncho said in the video call.
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