Man accused of murder accepts second confession after further charges

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho – A man accused of first-degree murder has been granted a second plea deal that will allow him to face additional serious charges related to alleged incidents at the Bonneville County Jail.

Lance Broncho, 23, pleaded guilty for the second time Monday to first-degree murder in the death of 51-year-old Eric Leask and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to a news release from Bonneville County Prosecutor Randy Neal.

Broncho accepted a plea deal in which he agreed to plead guilty to those charges. In exchange, prosecutors would take the death penalty off the table and drop the remaining charges: robbery, burglary, unlawful possession of a firearm and two enhanced penalties for using a deadly weapon in the commission of a serious felony.

Both the defense and the prosecution will recommend a life sentence. The defense is arguing for at least 25 years, the prosecution for at least 35 years.

Broncho was also recently charged with three counts of assault on certain persons and four counts of aggravated contraband in a correctional facility. Neal says there is no agreement to resolve those charges.

Broncho is scheduled to be sentenced for murder before District Judge Michael Whyte on October 7.

background

According to court documents, on March 9 at around 9 p.m., an Idaho Falls Police Department detective was called to investigate a shooting in the 100 block of 4th Street.

A woman who lived in the house said she and Leask were awakened by an “unknown perpetrator breaking into their front door.”

Broncho reportedly began fighting with the woman's son and Leask rushed to his aid.

The woman said Broncho had a gun and “facial tattoos near his eyes.” She told the detective she saw him fire the gun several times.

In an interview with investigators, the son said he was playing video games in his bedroom when he heard a knock on the door and “loud banging.”

Broncho entered the house and saw the son in the living room. The son said Broncho was wearing “a mask and dark clothing,” was armed with a gun and was screaming, “Give me everything!”

Both Leask and the son attempted to “overpower” Broncho, but he managed to fire the gun “multiple times,” hitting the son in the leg and hand and Leask in the shoulder/chest area.

According to the son, he gave Broncho a “9mm FN gun in the case to get him to leave.” Broncho then ran out of the house, but residents told the detective they believed Broncho was also injured.

Both Leask and the son were taken by ambulance from Idaho Falls to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.

Leask later succumbed to his injuries. His son was released.

At the time of the break-in, Broncho was on probation and had a felony warrant out for his arrest.

Past cases

In July 2020, a grand jury indicted Broncho on federal charges of assault causing serious injury for stabbing a man in the abdomen on the Fort Hall Reservation. He was sentenced to 40 months in prison.

In April 2021, Broncho was again convicted of aggravated assault on the Fort Hall Reservation.

In November 2023, Broncho was arrested and charged with aggravated assault after allegedly attacking another man with a baseball bat. According to Bonneville County Prosecutor Randy Neal, the charges were dropped due to a lack of witness testimony.