ICASDV Logo_Horz 
 In the News
Bringing you the latest domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and teen dating abuse-related news from across Idaho.
Police: 41-year-old Boise Man Arrested on Lewd Conduct Charge

BOISE - Urbina M. Torres is being held in the Ada County Jail on a felony charge of lewd conduct after Boise police say he had illegal sexual contact with a girl under the age of 16 on more than on occasion between 2009 and 2011. Boise police began their investigation into the 41-year-old Torres in November 2012 after getting a call from a third party. The girl told detectives that the illegal contact took place at a Boise area home over the two year period, according to reports. While Torres and the girl are known to each other, police say they had no contact after the investigation began because there was a safety plan in place over the last several months while the case was under investigation. Ada County Prosecutors issued an arrest warrant for Torres earlier this year. He was booked into the jail around 8 p.m. Thursday. Torres will make his initial court appearance Friday afternoon. The crime of lewd conduct is punishable by up to life in prison.

Boise Police Arrest Oakland Man on Marijuana, Prostitution Trafficking Charges

BOISE - Antonio M. Jones is being held in the Ada County Jail on felony counts of procurement of prostitution and receiving the funds of a prostitute after police say he brought two female prostitutes from California into Boise this week. Police say they have evidence the 32-year-old Jones set up the prostitutes at local hotels and "received funds obtained from the illegal activities," over the last four days. Police also cited three people on misdemeanor prostitution charges in connection with the case - Albert E. Garner, 31, of Sacramento; Christie M. Norwood, 33, of Los Angeles; and Mariah N. Edwards, 20, of Citrus Heights. Boise police began their investigation into Jones Tuesday night after a Neighborhood Contact Officer got a tip of undisclosed illegal activity happening in the parking lot of a hotel in the 1800 block of W. Fairview Avenue. (The business was not identified by police but that is where The Red Lion Hotel is.)  The crimes of interstate trafficking in prostitution and procurement of prostitution are each punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Crapo's Work on Anti-Violence Law Prompts Honor from American Bar Association

BOISE - Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo, the lead Republican sponsor of the Violence Against Women Act of 2013, will receive the ABA's Congressional Justice Award, one of six lawmakers to be so honored April 17. "As a VAWA sponsor, Sen. Crapo has made the effort to end domestic and sexual violence a national priority," said ABA President Laurel G. Bellows in a news release Friday. Other recipients of the 2013 award are Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J., Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. Crapo, who made his living as a lawyer before being elected to Congress in 1992, said in the ABA release: "I am honored to be recognized with the Justice Award from the American Bar Association. The Violence Against Women Act is an important piece of legislation that has worked to reduce domestic and sexual violence throughout Idaho and the United States. I will continue to work with colleagues to ensure we have the most up-to-date protections in place to stop this violence from occurring."

Idaho Man Gets 20 Years to Life for Child Rape

HANSEN - A 57-year-old Hansen man charged with repeatedly raping a young girl has been sentenced to 20 years to life in prison. David Michael Meyers pleaded guilty in January to one count of lewd conduct with a child under 16 and three counts of possessing or accessing child pornography. Other charges, including sexual abuse of a child under 16, were dismissed as part of the plea agreement. Twin Falls County Prosecutor Rosemary Emory says co-defendant Kandi Gay Mohr told investigators she held the girl down while Meyers raped her up to 25 times over an eight-year period, beginning when the girl was 3 years old.

 

http://www.khq.com/story/21991906/update-idaho-man-gets-20-years-to-life-for-child-rape  

CDA Police: Suspect Tried to Rape 16-year-old Girl

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho --  Coeur d'Alene Police are assisting the Kootenai County Sheriff in the search for a man they say tried to rape a 16-year-old girl Saturday morning.

Officials say the 16-year-old girl was walking in the 1800 block of N. 15th at 5:30 a.m. when she was assaulted by a man who was following her on foot. The girl suffered injuries while attempting to flee from the man. Authorities say the victim fled to a nearby residence. The homeowners let her in and called police. Officers are trying to track the suspect with a K9 unit and Air One. N. 15th is not blocked but citizens are asked to avoid the area. The suspect is described as a white man in his late 20's or early 30's with an average build, reddish hair, scruffy goatee and was wearing a dark colored Carhart jacket with tan Carhart pants. Anyone with information is asked to call Coeur d'Alene Police at 208-769-2320.

http://www.ktvb.com/news/crime/Coeur-dAlene-Police-Suspect-tried-to-rape-16-year-old-girl-202852761.html 

Homedale Man Sentenced for Teen Sexual Battery

CALDWELL - A Homedale man with a 2006 conviction for having sex with a 16-year-old girl has been sentenced to at least five years in prison for repeating his crime shortly after being discharged from probation. The Idaho Press-Tribune reports 35-year-old Nathan Volk was sentenced to up to 25 years in prison for sexual battery of a minor. Canyon County officials say District Judge George Southworth also ordered Volk to register as a sex offender and have no contact with the victim. Prosecuting Attorney Bryan Taylor said Monday that Volk had sex with a 16-year-old family friend on multiple occasions and convinced the girl not to tell anyone. The girl's mother called police. Taylor says Volk had just been discharged from probation when he committed the latest offense.

 

http://www.ktvb.com/news/crime/Homedale-man-sentenced-for-teen-sexual-battery-203209061.html 

Boise Man Accused of Raping Senior Citizen

BOISE - A 62-year-old Boise man is in the Ada County Jail accused of felony rape.

Police say Gene A. Finch was arrested just after 7 p.m. Tuesday. Finch is accused of sexually exploiting a senior citizen at a Boise home several times throughout the past three years. Department spokesman Chuck McClure told KTVB the victim is over the age of 70.

Police say the crimes were reported on April 5th of this year. They say Finch is known to the victim and officers have no reason at this time to believe other victims are involved.

The investigation continues.

 

http://www.ktvb.com/news/crime/Boise-man-accused-of-sexually-exploiting-vulnerable-adult-203388761.html 

Pocatello Woman Suspected of Stabbing Boyfriend with a Steak Knife

 

POCATELLO - A Pocatello woman has been arrested for allegedly stabbing her boyfriend with a steak knife. Pocatello police say 25-year-old Whitney Smiddy is suspected of stabbing Mike Burnham in the chest early Monday morning after an argument.

The Idaho State Journal reports Smiddy was later arrested and is being held at the Bannock County Jail without bond. Police say she could face charges of aggravated battery, and an additional charge for allegedly stabbing Burnham in the presence of a child.

Burnham was treated for injuries at the hospital.

http://www.ktvb.com/news/crime/Pocatello-woman-suspected-of-stabbing-boyfriend-with-a-steak-knife-203430371.html  

Police: Man Recorded Video of 9-year-old Girl in Bathroom

KETCHUM - A central Idaho man who police say used his smartphone to record video of a 9-year-old girl using a public restroom a block away from the Ketchum police station has been charged with two felonies. The Idaho Mountain Express reports that 42-year-old Mark C. Peterson of Sun Valley was charged Monday in 5th District Court with video voyeurism and sexual abuse of a minor under 16. Ketchum police say the girl told her parents that while using the restroom at Giacobbi Square on Saturday morning she saw Peterson peek under the stall. Police quickly arrived and confiscated Peterson's smartphone and say he used it to take video. Peterson was being held in the Blaine County Jail on a $100,000 bond.

http://www.ktvb.com/news/crime/Police-Man-recorded-video-of-9-year-old-girl-in-bathroom-203426361.html 

Man Charged with Torture in Stabbing Death of Pregnant N. Idaho Woman

SANDPOINT - Authorities in northern Idaho have filed modified criminal charges against a man accused of stabbing his pregnant wife to death to include torture.

The Bonner County Daily Bee reports that prosecutors in an updated charging document filed late last month contend that 27-year-old Jeremy Keith Swanson meant to inflict extreme and prolonged pain on his wife out of vengeance or to satisfy a sadistic inclination.

Swanson is charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

Court records say Swanson told authorities he knew 27-year-old Jennifer Marie Bosch-Swanson was 15 weeks pregnant when he stabbed her to death Dec. 18.

Police say the couple's 20-month-old daughter also was in the home at the time, but she wasn't harmed.

 

http://www.ktvb.com/news/crime/Man-charged-with-torture-in-stabbing-death-of-pregnant-N-Idaho-woman-203409751.html  

Nampa Man Charged with Sexual Abuse After Meeting Teen at High School

 

BOISE - A Nampa man has been arrested after Ada County Sheriff's detectives say he had a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old at a local high school Tuesday morning. Luke Inman, 23, is charged with enticing the girl over the Internet and sexual abuse of a minor. Ada County Sheriff's detectives began investigating Inman's activities after learning that he had met with an underage girl near Kuna High School on the morning of April 16. Detectives say that Inman met the teenager through an online social media site, meetme.com, and asked her to meet him for sex. They say Inman and the girl had sexual contact in a school building prior to the start of classes. As the investigation unfolded, detectives discovered that Inman attempted to contact nearly 200 girls through the website since mid-March. Most of the girls were between the ages of 14 and 16. "This man was aggressively seeking out young girls for one purpose - to sexually exploit them. He wanted to exchange pornographic images with them and ultimately meet in person to have sex with them," said Detective Craig Durrell.

Read more: http://www.ktvb.com/news/crime/Nampa-man-accused-of-having-sex-with-teen-at-local-high-school-203658121.html 

Kuna Mom Admits Having Sex with 15-year-old Boy

BOISE - A Kuna mom accused of having sex with teenage boys has pleaded guilty to six counts of lewd conduct with a minor. Ada County prosecutors tell us that 35-year-old Courtney Sue Reschke entered the pleas today. All of the felony charges she admitted to involved sexual acts with a 15-year-old boy. As part of a plea deal, six other lewd conduct counts and two counts of sexual abuse of a minor under 16 were dropped. Reschke also entered Alford pleas to seven counts of giving alcohol to minors. She did not admit guilt, but acknowledged that there was enough evidence against her for prosecutors to get a conviction. Reschke was arrested on Nov. 30 after authorities said she had sexual encounters with teenage boys that were acquaintances of her oldest child. Investigators said the sexual encounters happened at her Kuna home after Reschke provided the teens with alcohol. The boys were said to be 14 and 15 years old. She was indicted on 20 charges nearly three weeks after her arrest. The indictment alleged there were eight victims. Reschke has been in the Ada County Jail since her arrest. Sentencing is set for June 20. Reschke could face up to life in prison

 

http://www.ktvb.com/news/crime/Kuna-mom-admits-having-sex-with-15-year-old-boy-203671051.html 

Pocatello Council Rejects Anti-Discrimination Ordinance

POCATELLO - Mayor Brian Blad cast the deciding vote Thursday night to defeat a proposed new ordinance designed to protect the LGBT community from discrimination when it comes to housing, employment or public accommodations. An evenly divided Pocatello City Council voted 3-3 on a motion to approve the ordinance following another short public hearing on changes made since the ordinance was first proposed April 4. Voting for the ordinance were Eva Nye, Gary Moore and Roger Bray. Those opposed were Steve Brown, Craig Cooper and Jim Johnston. "Either way I'm going to be loved or hated by half this crowd," Blad said before casting his vote against the ordinance. The April 4 meeting on the ordinance featured a lengthy hearing that drew 50 people who testified in support and 15 opposed.

 

Read more: http://www.idahostatejournal.com/members/article_2762178c-a89b-11e2-9e57-001a4bcf887a.html

Twin Fall County Sheriff's Deputy Arrested on Charges of Domestic Battery

TWIN FALLS - A Twin Falls County Sheriff's deputy has been arrested on charges of felony domestic battery. Sgt. Michael Cooper, a 15-year member of the Twin Falls County Sheriff's Office, was arraigned on three counts of domestic battery, inflicting traumatic injury. In a police report filed in court Wednesday, Twin Falls police state that they met with a woman who said she was the victim of domestic battery, and that Cooper beat her on several occasions. The police report outlines the alleged incidents that led to the charges.

During the first incident in July 2008, the woman told police Cooper became angry about being disrespected. The report states that the woman said she put her hand on Cooper's chin so he would look at her. He then grabbed her by the hand, twisted her arm and forced her to the floor, injuring her arm, the report states.

 

Read more: http://magicvalley.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/twin-falls-county-sheriff-s-deputy-arrested-on-charges-of/article_5e476ea8-a88e-11e2-bf0c-0019bb2963f4.html 

Former Declo Man Sentenced for Possessing Sexual Explicit Images of Minors

BOISE - A former Declo resident was sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Boise to prison for possession of sexually explicit images of minors, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. David Jay Wheeler, 70, now of Homedale, was sentenced to eight years in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Wheeler to pay $2,219.47 in restitution on behalf of a child victim and forfeit property used to commit the offense. According to court documents, Wheeler is a former "hands-on" child molester whose sexual attraction to prepubescent females dates back decades. By his own admission, Wheeler used his computer to access online child pornography twice a week over the last ten years, Olson's announcement said. Wheeler used sophisticated means to avoid detection, but investigators were able to locate him by using GPS technology, according to court documents.

 

Read more: http://magicvalley.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/former-declo-man-sentenced-for-possessing-sexually-explicit-images-of/article_a9073fbe-a79d-11e2-bb9c-0019bb2963f4.html  

Competency Hearing Scheduled for Man Accused of Murder

BURLEY - A competency hearing for a man accused of first-degree murder will be held May 21. Jose Antonio Lara was charged in January 2012 after he allegedly strangled his wife, Joann Lyn Lara, 25, to death with a belt in the bedroom of their Burley home. Criminal proceedings were halted while Lara was committed for care and treatment after his attorney argued he was unfit to assist in his defense. A hearing on a motion to extend commitment for Lara was canceled Tuesday because no objection to the motion was filed. Fifth District Magistrate Judge Rick Bollar said a disposition on Lara's continued determination of competency will be held at 9 a.m. May 21. According to court documents, in August the court found Lara mentally ill and dangerous. Lara allegedly told detectives he was at his mother's house the night his wife was murdered. Later, he allegedly said he and his wife had been arguing when he took a black belt away from her and used it to strangle her from behind, according to court documents.

 

http://magicvalley.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/competency-hearing-scheduled-for-man-accused-of-murder/article_7f60810a-a6ff-11e2-912e-0019bb2963f4.html  

Former Burley Vice Principal Pleads Guilty to 2 Child Sex Charges

BURLEY - On the eve of her scheduled jury trial, Tara Bagley, 41, former vice principal of Burley High School, pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of sexual battery committed by lewd or lascivious acts on a minor child 16 to 17 years old. The two counts stem from sexual conduct with two female victims who were students at the school, according to court records. The activity took place during a one-and-a-half year period, starting July 2011. Softly sobbing and dabbing her eyes and nose with a tissue, Bagley's voice broke several times while she answered questions posed by Cassia County 5th District Judge Michael Crabtree regarding the plea agreement and related documents. Bagley was charged with seven counts of felony sexual battery of a minor child 16 to 17 years old. Five of the seven charges were defined as committed by lewd or lascivious acts. The remainder of the charges will be dismissed under the plea agreement.

 

Read more: http://magicvalley.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/former-burley-vice-principal-pleads-guilty-to-child-sex-charges/article_d525eaa8-a6b4-11e2-80f3-0019bb2963f4.html  

Like us on Facebook

Stay Connected

  

Idaho Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence
300 E. Mallard Dr., Boise, Idaho 83706� 208.384.0419