Plea agreement filed for man charged with killing cousin, stuffing body in shower
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LAKE COUNTY — On Friday a plea agreement was filed regarding a man set to go to trial Dec. 5 for homicide. The document asks the trial date to be vacated and Stephen Seese, 23, Osburn, Idaho, appear before Judge James Manley Wednesday, Dec. 7 for his change of plea.
Seese is accused of killing his 18-year-old cousin, Richard Warner on Feb. 17 in Arlee. His wife, Kassandra Seese, 24, stated in court documents that she was present with their two children when he allegedly struck the blows that killed Warner. The couple stuffed Warner’s dead body in the shower, covered it with clothing and furniture, and lived in the trailer until May when they moved to Idaho. The decomposed body was found June 2 by two men who came to move the trailer.
Both Stephen and Kassandra were originally charged with deliberate homicide in separate cases. Kassandra pleaded guilty to an amended charge of accountability (negligent homicide) on Sept. 21. Her sentencing is set for Wednesday, Nov. 23. Both the state and defense recommend Kassandra be committed to the Department of Corrections for 20 years with 15 suspended.
Following her plea, a motion was filed in Lake County District Court Sept. 29 by Stephen’s attorney, Lisa Kauffman, that stated they believe it was actually Kassandra who struck the fatal blows that killed Warner, and that Stephen is innocent. According to the court document, the defense team believes that Kassandra and other family members have pressured Stephen to “take the fall” for his wife, so she does not lose the couple’s two young children.
However, in anticipation of Stephen’s case going to trial, an immunity agreement was also filed Friday, prior to Stephen’s plea agreement, stating she will provide truthful statements in an interview with her husband’s lawyer regarding her observations of the circumstances leading up to the death of Warner, and subsequent actions. In exchange, nothing Kassandra says can be used against her in future criminal prosecution, and the state may not withdraw the plea agreement with her.
Stephen’s plea agreement stipulates that he will plead guilty to an amended offense of accountability (negligent homicide), a felony.
According to the plea agreement, the state will recommend Stephen be committed as a persistent felony offender to the Department of Corrections for 40 years with none of that time suspended. The defense will argue for a lesser sentence.
