Murder accomplice in Boundary County Jail

A former Priest Lake woman who admitted to her involvement in the murder of her landlord so she could get a $55,000 escrow check is being housed in Boundary County Jail.

Tyrah Brown was transported to Bonners Ferry Fri-day after pleading at the courthouse in Sandpoint guilty to  accessory after the fact to murder and grand theft. The 27-year-old, who had been kept at the Bonner County Jail since her arrest in Florida on March 20, 2007, will remain here for six months so she can get counseling, which her attorney believes will lead to Brown’s rehabilitation.

Bonners Ferry counselor Mona Kim-Brown will be working with Tyrah Brown.

“Brown is receiving cognitive reasoning counseling and receiving the tools for her to make better decisions in the future,” Woods said, “Mona Kim-Brown is laying the right foundation with Tyrah, helping her implement a good frame of mind to help her transition back into society.”

“Tyrah wants to become a productive member of society,” said Woods.

Brown has been jailed for nearly two years in connection with the shooting death of Leslie Carlton Breaw, 48, in January 2007.  Brown’s husband Keith, was charged with first-degree murder and grand theft and will go to trial this summer.  Keith Brown is currently being held at the Bonner County jail.

Tyrah Brown initially confessed to the killing, recanting later saying that she was not directly involved and maintains she was not present when Breaw was shot.   A polygraph supported her statement.  The amended murder charge of accessory to murder states that she was aware of the murder, but with held information from authorities, essentially assisting her husband after the murder.  

Tyrah Brown claims she did not know that the $55,000 escrow check made out to Breaw was stolen, but deposited it into the couple’s account.  The check was converted to cash after the couple fled Idaho. 

Both of Tyrah Brown’s pleas were entered as part of an agreement between the state and the defense that were in negotiations for a year. The maximum sentence for the accessory charge is five years and the theft charge is punishable by up to 14 years. 

Under the plea agreement the concurrent prison sentences would be suspended, with Tyrah Brown serving six months in county jail then probation.

“Keeping her in Boundary County keeps her (Tyrah Brown) from having to be transported from Bonner to Boundary County once a week for her counseling session,” said Woods.