The Blackfoot After ramming his car into a pole, a 20-year-old man was detained in connection with a fatal shooting incident in Idaho Falls. According to Idaho State Police, the man was intoxicated and carrying illegal substances.
In addition to the foregoing charges, Taylor Alan Aughenbaugh was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under the influence of alcohol, and unlawful possession of alcohol.
Aughenbaugh has been charged in two different charges related to the February 2024 shooting death of a man in the Compass Academy parking lot. Aughenbaugh is charged with one count of criminal hiding or destroying evidence and two counts of felony aggravated violence with a deadly weapon. Additionally, he is charged with felony grand theft of a handgun.
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The most recent bail for Aughenbaugh was $250,000. After posting $100,000 bail in his first charge and $20,000 bail in the grand theft case, he was previously released.
The court filings state that at around 9:30 a.m. on July 2, an ISP trooper arrived at the scene of a collision at the Sage Hill Gas Station located on 843 North, U.S. Highway 91 in Bingham County. An intoxicated driver was engaged in the crash. According to the first account, a car struck a pole while the driver was asleep inside the still-running vehicle.
The driver, identified as Aughenbaugh, was speaking with a Fort Hall Police officer when the trooper arrived on the scene.
The trooper was informed by the officer that Aughenbaugh had admitted to drinking and that a Glock 17 gun had been taken from the car, which was located between the console and the driver’s seat.
A case of beer was found in the front passenger seat of the car when the trooper peered inside.
According to the trooper, Aughenbaugh couldn’t keep his eyes open and seemed sleepy with drooping eyelids. According to reports, Aughenbaugh’s eyes were bloodshot and his head continued to roll and flop from side to side.
According to the affidavit, Aughenbaugh admitted to having some alcohol the night before and quitting at midnight. Later, when he inquired about the time, the trooper said that it was 9:45 a.m.
According to the trooper, Aughenbaugh had trouble getting out of his car and was brought by EMS for assessment.
When the trooper asked Aughenbaugh whether he had suffered any brain injuries that would have prohibited him from doing the tests after his evaluation, he replied that he had not.
The document When questioned if he was using any illegal substances, Aughenbauh said that he wasn’t.
When asked if he had ever used marijuana, he replied that he had the year before. He denied using heroin, cocaine, or meth when questioned about it.
Due to the presence of alcohol in the vehicle and the smell of alcohol emanating from Aughenbaugh, the trooper looked for open containers in the vehicle after the tests.
In the rear seat was a fanny pack, which was opened to reveal a bag of marijuana and a white powder scale.
After being taken into custody, Aughenbaugh was informed of his Miranda Rights.
Aughenbaugh was queried about the scale by the trooper. He denied any knowledge of it to the trooper.
When the trooper discovered Aughenbaugh’s criminal history, he seized the Glock pistol but did not arrest him with unauthorized possession of a firearm. According to the paperwork, the gun was returned to its owner since Aughenbaugh’s criminal history dates back to his youth.
At 8:30 a.m. on July 31, Aughenbaugh is expected to appear before Magistrate Judge James Howard Barrett Jr. for a preliminary hearing.
It is not a given that Aughenbaugh committed these offenses, even if he has been charged with them. Until someone is proven guilty, they are all presumed innocent. He faces a maximum sentence of 11 years in jail and a maximum fine of $19,000 if convicted.
