HAILEY - It's an issue that's grasping hold of national headlines, sexual assault in the armed services. Statistics reveal about 500,000 women have been sexually assaulted in the military. "I loved that I could keep up with the guys and work as hard as they did," exclaims a rape victim. Another rape victim adds, "the professionalism, the camaraderie, getting out there, giving it my all, it's what I chose to do...everything changed the day I was raped." "The Invisible War" depicts stories from men and women alike who were sexually assaulted during their time of service. The Academy Award nominee for Best Documentary brings an issue to the forefront that has been ongoing for years. Col. Tim Marsano, Idaho National Guard says, "now there are cases that have in the national spotlight lately where folks have broken the rules. We trust that they will be disciplined if proven guilty to the full extent of the law." In 2012, the Idaho National Guard reported 10 cases of sexual assault, which happens to be the average per year. "We have taken care of most of those, but we find that the largest factor when it comes to sexual assault is actually alcohol. So take away that factor and i think we'll see these allegations go way, way down," adds Marsano. As part of his duties, Col. Tim Marsano of the Idaho National Guard takes sexual assault training. "Throughout the Department of Defense, sexual assault is taken extremely seriously, probably undergone 3 or 4 classes personally on my own," adds Marsano.

Read more (Part One): http://www.kmvt.com/news/local/214001941.html 

Read more (Part Two): http://www.kmvt.com/news/local/Mountain-Home-Addresses-Sexual-Assault-On-Base-214041551.html 

According to the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, cases involving women who abuse girls account for about 6 percent of all cases. In Idaho, 110 of the 3,838 people currently listed on the Idaho Sex Offender Registry - 2.9 percent - are women, according to a count by the Statesman. Since 1993, adults convicted of sex crimes have had to register with their local sheriff. Registration requirements for convicted juveniles were added in 1998.In a 2008 report to the Idaho Legislature, females represented 4.4 percent of the suspects charged with child sexual abuse in the 12 previous years. That percentage was consistent with past studies, the report said.

Read more: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2013/07/14/2653621/scrutiny-sentences-different-for.html 

Opinion Piece by Roger Sherman, Idaho Children's Trust Fund: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2013/07/12/2651461/boys-sexually-victimized-by-women.html 

BURLEY - Tara Bagley, former vice principal at Burley High School, was led out of the courtroom Tuesday to serve two consecutive four- to 13-year prison terms for sexually abusing two girls at the school. Under a plea agreement, Bagley pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual abuse committed by lewd or lascivious acts on a minor child 16 to 17 years old. Five charges of sexual battery of a minor child 16 to 17 years old will be dismissed. Defense attorney Robert Nielsen said her actions were due to depression that was not properly medicated. Linda Steele, a Utah counselor, said Bagley's depression prevented her from making good decisions. "The depression swallowed me up," Bagley said. Many people are depressed, but they do not go out and molest children, said Al Barrus, prosecutor for Cassia County. Bagley was also sentenced to pay a civil penalty of $5,000 to each victim along with court costs and the cost for evaluations. The prosecution has 30 days to file a motion for restitution to the victims.

Read more: http://magicvalley.com/news/local/mini-cassia/former-burley-high-vice-principal-sentenced-on-sexual-abuse-charges/article_232a7475-f728-5fd9-b3ba-1b74cdc8029a.html 

TWIN FALLS - The sentencing hearing for a 44-year-old Twin Falls man convicted of having an illegal sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl has been delayed. Robert Brackett was scheduled to be sentenced this afternoon. A new date has not been set. Arrested in January 2011, Brackett was convicted Feb. 20, 2013, of five counts of sexual battery of a minor and eight counts of possession of child pornography. The jury couldn't decide on one count of sexual battery of a minor. Brackett acted as his own attorney during the three-week trial. Since his conviction, Brackett has filed numerous motions with the court. On April 24, Brackett filed a motion requesting an attorney through the Twin Falls County Public Defender's Office. George Essma was assigned to the sentencing, but in late June, Brackett told the Times-News that his family hired a private attorney to represent him instead. Court staff this afternoon said that the private attorney had a conflict in the case and could not be at today's sentencing. This morning, Essma notified the court that he was not prepared for today's sentencing, court staff said.
 

http://magicvalley.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/sentencing-delayed-in-sexual-battery-case/article_c1e7b102-e290-11e2-905e-0019bb2963f4.html

Murder Victim Found Dead Over One Year Later, Wife Charged

WALLACE -- A 50-year-old North Idaho woman is charged with first-degree murder after her husband's body was found at the couple's trailer house more than a year after he died. The Shoshone News Press reports Jackie Reed of Osburn made an initial court appearance Thursday. First District Magistrate Court Judge Daniel McGee set her bail at $250,000. Shoshone County Prosecutor Keisha Oxendine says the body of Gregory Reed Sr., was recovered from the property on Wednesday and Jackie Reed was arrested the same day. Court records indicate Gregory Reed died in May 2012. An autopsy is planned. Oxendine says Osburn police along with the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and Idaho State Police are investigating the case. Reed is being represented by attorney Staci Anderson, who participated in Thursday's court hearing by telephone.

http://www.ktvb.com/news/crime/N-murder-victim-found-dead-over-one-year-later-wife-charged-215252081.html

MURTAUGH - A Burley man was arrested for felony driving under the influence early Wednesday after Twin Falls County sheriff's deputies found him sleeping in his car on a farm lane off U.S. 30 near Murtaugh. David Horton, 46, was arraigned on the charge later that day in County Court. Deputies had received reports of a crying woman walking along U.S. 30 just south of town. They found her about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday on the highway near 4500 East. She told them she and her husband had argued, and he made her get out of the car and walk home. Another deputy arrived and took her to her home in Burley. Meanwhile, deputies searched for Horton's car and found it, with Horton sleeping in it, on a farm lane around 4800 East off U.S. 30. The motor was off, but the vehicle was in drive, with the keys in the passenger seat and several open beer cans on the rear passenger - side floorboard, deputies reported. "It took several comments, and me pounding on the roof, to wake up the driver," a deputy wrote in the report. "When he woke, he was severely disoriented and said, 'I don't know where I am at,' and 'I am just trying to get home.'" The report says Horton's eyes were glassy and severely bloodshot, and deputies smelled alcohol. After he failed several field sobriety tests, deputies arrested Horton on suspicion of DUI. Once at the Twin Falls County Jail, Horton blew a 0.204 and a 0.195 on a breathalyzer test, the report says. Horton has three DUI convictions from earlier cases in Twin Falls County.

http://magicvalley.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/burley-man-arrested-on-felony-dui-charge-after-kicking-wife/article_68af1280-ea68-11e2-a8e4-0019bb2963f4.html 

Boise Man Faces Attempted Murder Charges After Police Respond to Domestic Call

BOISE - A 55-year-old Boise man is in the Ada County Jail today on charges of attempted murder after a man pulled a gun on officers, the Boise Police Department reported. James N. Twitchell has been charged with attempted murder, two counts of battery on a law enforcement officer and domestic assault. Boise police were responding to a domestic violence call at about 7:30 p.m. Saturday at a home near N. Five Mile and W. Ustick roads. The woman left the home and met officers at a safe location. When two officers then went to the home to speak with the suspect, the man allowed both officers into the house and as they walked inside, the man, police reported, reached for a handgun from the top of an entertainment center and began to turn toward the officers. After a struggle the officers were able to disarm the suspect and take him into custody. During the investigation that followed, officers found evidence the man had grabbed the gun with the intention of shooting the officers, the Boise Police press release stated. No shots were fired by either the suspect or officers in this incident, but one officer was treated for injuries to his hand. The suspect sustained injuries to his face during the struggle. While the suspect was being treated for injuries at a hospital, police said he kicked an officer in the chest, resulting in the battery charge.

http://www.idahopress.com/news/boise-man-faces-attempted-murder-charges-when-police-respond-to/article_21a69f8e-f238-11e2-8998-0019bb2963f4.html

IDAHO FALLS - An Ammon man is facing felony stalking charges after he violated protection orders several times.  Authorities say 37-year-old Joshua Howes allegedly stalked a 34-year-old Idaho Falls woman who had a restraining order against him. The alleged confrontations occurred numerous times in May, June, and July. After a warrant was issued, Howes turned himself in at the Bonneville County Jail on Tuesday. He remains held on a $20,000 bond.

http://www.eastidahonews.com/2013/07/ammon-man-charged-with-stalking/ 

Man Charged with Rape, Attempted Murder in Friday Morning Attack

BOISE - A Boise man was arrested for rape and attempted murder Friday morning. Ryan Wayne Kanady, 32, allegedly raped a woman Friday in her Boise Bench home at about 8 a.m., police said. The victim, who knew Kanady, told police the man held a pillow over her face during the assault. She was suffocated to the point of losing consciousness, she said. When the woman awoke, she was able to lock herself in a bathroom and call 911 for help. Responding officers found Kanady in the woman's backyard and took him into custody. Police said he refused to obey officers' commands and resisted attempts to arrest him. Kanady is charged with rape, attempted murder, and resisting and obstructing. He is currently being held in the Ada County Jail.

  http://www.idahostatesman.com/2013/07/12/2652371/man-charged-with-rape-attempted.html 

IDAHO FALLS - An Idaho Falls man was arrested after an alleged rape last week.  Police say 43-year-old Cory Caldwell reportedly threw a woman down and pinned her to the ground. The incident occurred along the 200 block of Park Avenue early Thursday. The 47-year-old victim was an acquaintance of Caldwell, and was taken to EIRMC for treatment. Caldwell remains held in the Bonneville County Jail on a $25,000 bond.

http://www.eastidahonews.com/2013/07/idaho-falls-man-accused-of-rape/ 

BOISE - The man accused of attacking two women at the Boise Towne Square Mall on May 14 could face up to 65 years in prison if convicted on all charges. Greggory Lee Macho, 31, is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in her car in the mall's parking lot, then running over a second woman who was coming to her aid. He was arrested June 5, after police released a suspect sketch and photos of his distinctive teal truck. Macho faces felony counts of kidnapping, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, and destruction of evidence. He is also being charged with using a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, an enhancement that could add 15 years to the aggravated battery sentence. Kidnapping carries a sentence of up to 25 years, while an aggravated battery conviction could net Macho a 15-year sentence. Both aggravated assault and destruction of evidence are punishable by up to 5 years in prison. At Wednesday's hearing, the judge warned Macho that if he was found guilty, those sentences could be ordered to be served consecutively, meaning he would have to serve them back-to-back, instead of at the same time. Macho was granted a continuance to enter a plea. His new hearing will be July 31 at 1:30 p.m.

Read more: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2013/07/17/2658481/judge-if-guilty-mall-attack-suspect.html#storylink=cpy 

BOISE - A man currently serving time in prison for lewd conduct with a child under 16 has been charged with sexually abusing a 10-year-old before his arrest. David Charles Loomis, 35, was sentenced to 24 years in prison in 2004. But the Ada County Prosecutor's Office alleges that Loomis also abused a Boise child in January 2000. Deputy Prosecutor Cathy Guzman declined to provide specifics about how the office had discovered the abuse. "Some things came to light [about] abuse that occurred before he was incarcerated," she said. The Boise Police Department said that a warrant was issued after an ongoing investigation. Loomis, who was scheduled for release in 2028, could face up to life in prison if convicted of the additional lewd conduct charge. He was transferred to the Ada County Jail Friday morning.
 

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2013/07/01/2639155/convicted-abuser-faces-new-charge.html#storylink=cpy 

A former employee of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Lewis Clark Valley, who had been honored in 2011 as "Youth of the Year," has been indicted by a North Central Idaho grand jury on sexual assault charges. Prosecutors said the alleged crimes did not occur on Boys and Girls Club property, or during club activities. This morning's Lewiston Tribune reports that 21-year-old Tyrel Smolinski of Lewiston is charged with felony counts of rape and lewd and lascivious contract with a minor younger than 16. He is being held in the Nez Perce County Jail on a $10,000 bond. The Nez Perce County Sheriff's office said it began its probe in May and the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Lewis Clark Valley has been cooperating with the investigation. The Tribune reports that offenses are alleged to have occurred earlier this year. The sheriff's office did not reveal the age of the alleged victim.

http://www.boiseweekly.com/CityDesk/archives/2013/07/10/tribune-idaho-boys-and-girls-club-former-employee-charged-with-rape-sexual-assault-of-minor 

BUHL - A local man has been charged with sexual abuse of a child younger than 16 after he inappropriately touched an 8-year-old girl who lives nearby, deputies said. On Tuesday, July 16, Twin Falls County sheriff's deputies met with a couple who said their daughter was sexually abused. The parents said their 8-year-old daughter and her two brothers went for a bike ride with a neighbor named Scott Monroe Laughlin. Laughlin, 32, took the children to look for frogs in an area near 3800 North and 1600 East, southeast of Buhl. The father said he found Laughlin in there with his hands up his daughter's shirt, and the girl sitting on his lap. The father told Laughlin to go home and called police. Deputies spoke to Laughlin at his house and reported seeing pornography DVDs advertising "barely legal girls." Laughlin denied abusing the girl, saying she ran up to give him a hug and the force of her hug knocked him to the ground. One of the girl's brothers said he saw Laughlin get tired and sit down with his sister on his lap. Deputies told Laughlin they found his story difficult to believe, but he continued to deny touching the girl inappropriately. He was taken to the county jail. Wednesday, Laughlin's bond was set at $50,000.A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 27.

http://magicvalley.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/twin-falls-man-charged-with-sexually-abusing-neighbor/article_685e9263-8dac-5b1d-adf2-87295af9349b.html 

BOISE - A former Hazelton man pleaded guilty today to sexually exploiting two children. Michael Brian Clair, 33, formerly of Hazelton, Idaho, and Parker, Ariz., pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Boise to sexual exploitation of children by production of sexually explicit images of minors, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations agents arrested Clair at a home near Hazelton on Feb. 22, said a press release from Olson's office. He had been residing there for about two months. According to his plea agreement, Clair came to the attention of law enforcement on Oct. 28, 2012, when he responded to an advertisement posted on the Internet by an HSI agent in New Orleans, the release said. While conversing via email with the agent, Clair made several statements about having inappropriate sexual contact with a 4-year-old female and discussed trading sexually explicit images. During today's plea hearing, Clair admitted that between July 2012 and January 2013, he coerced two prepubescent minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct, for the purpose of producing visual depictions, and transported those images from Arizona to Idaho in late December, the release said. Clair also admitted distributing child pornography to others via the Internet, including to a sex offender in Queensland, Australia. The charge of sexual exploitation of children by producing sexually explicit images of minors is punishable by 15 to 30 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a minimum term of five years up to lifetime supervised release, the release said. The government is seeking forfeiture of the computer equipment used in the offense.

http://magicvalley.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/former-hazelton-man-pleads-guilty-to-sexually-exploiting-children/article_7be3152c-ed8d-11e2-82e3-001a4bcf887a.html 

A Nampa man is accused on inappropriately touching a boy in a bathroom on Tuesday at Roaring Springs Waterpark in Meridian. George McFadden, 18, was arrested and charged with battery with the intent to commit a serious felony and lewd conduct with a minor. Both are felony charges. Here's what police say happened: A boy walked into the bathroom and the suspect attempted to grab him. That boy was able to get away; Within a relatively short period of time, another boy walked into the bathroom. The suspect grabbed him, pulled him into a bathroom stall and touched him inappropriately; In a statement that Roaring Springs released Wednesday evening, the waterpark said Roaring Springs security isolated McFadden and immediately called police. Meridian police said that description was accurate. Meridian police said McFadden has a "diminished mental capacity." The victims are both younger than 16. As of Wednesday evening, police didn't believe that there were any other victims. The families of both boys are pressing charges in the case. McFadden was being held at the Ada County Jail.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2013/07/10/2650207/man-accused-of-lewd-conduct-at.html#storylink=cpy 

BURLEY -  A Burley man is set to face a jury in November after alleged repeated lewd conduct with five children. Michael Jay Beck, 47, was charged in February with six felony counts of lewd conduct with a child under 16. Beck has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The trial will be held at 9 a.m. at the Cassia County 5th District Court in front of 5th District Judge Michael Crabtree. The charges stem from Beck's alleged conduct with an 8-year-old female, two 11-year-old females, a 14-year-old male and a 16-year-old male. Beck allegedly had sexual contact with the three girls, apparently witnessed by the boys. One of the female victims told detectives they had a bell on the door so they could run and hide when Beck entered the home. The alleged sexual contact went on for years, according to court records. Beck was also charged in November with misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor injury to a child after he allegedly took hold of a 16-year-old male victim by the neck and shoved him backward. Beck has entered a not guilty plea to the charge but is slated for a change of plea hearing at 10:30 a.m. July 16 in Cassia County 5th District Magistrate Court.

http://magicvalley.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/jury-trial-set-for-burley-man-accused-of-molesting-children/article_e6da98a9-8935-5d51-a80e-a7507ae59fd6.html 

BOISE - Four men are suing the Mormon church and Boy Scouts of America in federal court, saying they were sexually abused while attending scouting functions in Idaho. Attorneys Gilion Dumas, Andrew Chasan and Timothy Walton filed the lawsuit in Boise's U.S. District Court on Monday on behalf of the men, who are named only as John Does I-IV. Three of the men say they were in troops sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and that they were abused by scout leaders while at Scouting functions or on camping trips. The fourth says he was in a troop sponsored by the Elks Club in Lewiston when he was abused. Deron Smith, a spokesman for the Boy Scouts of America, said he couldn't comment on the lawsuit but said the organization was one of the first youth programs in the nation to develop youth protection policies and education. "Any instance of child victimization or abuse is intolerable and unacceptable,'' Smith said in a prepared statement. "While we can't comment on the lawsuit, we deeply regret that there have been times when Scouts were abused, and for that we are very sorry and extend our deepest sympathies to victims.'' Eric Hawkins, a spokesman for the LDS Church, said it's difficult to provide information on the cases mentioned in the lawsuit because they happened between 28 and 41 years ago and the plaintiffs aren't named. But he said in the decades since, society has learned a great deal about abuse, and the LDS Church has taken significant steps to recognize and prevent abuse and to care for victims. He said in a prepared statement that the church has zero tolerance for abuse and those who engage in abuse are subject to prosecution and church discipline. The men are asking for monetary damages in an amount to be proven at trial.

Read more: http://magicvalley.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/men-sue-boy-scouts-lds-church-in-idaho/article_8836686e-dd0d-11e2-a90c-001a4bcf887a.html 

TWIN FALLS - Police say a Twin Falls man raped a 14-year-old girl several times over the course of a few months. Juan Roberto Jimenez, 31, was charged Wednesday with three counts of lewd conduct with a minor younger than 16. He was already accused of a different crime. In February, police say, Jimenez shot and injured his brother, Jorge Alvarado, outside a home in the 100 block of Tyler Street. In April, prosecutors added a persistent violator enhancement to his charges because of prior felonies. If found guilty of the shooting, Jimenez could be sentenced to life in prison. This week's new charges are unrelated. On Jan. 29, police spoke with a woman who said her daughter had been raped by a man they knew in late 2011 and early 2012. The girl told police that several rapes happened at her home and another at a Boise hotel. After the first incident, she said, Jimenez apologized and said it happened because of medication he was taking. Jimenez told the girl not to tell her mother because he had already told her, a police report says. Jimenez was arrested on suspicion of lewd conduct on Wednesday, and he posted $50,000 bond the same day. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 28. A jury trial in the shooting case is scheduled for Sept. 17.

Police: Suspect Sexually Abused Three Children in Boise

BOISE - A Boise man has been charged with five felony counts of lewd conduct with a minor. Matthew Wesley Angell, 25, was arrested Wednesday afternoon. Police said the charges stem from inappropriate contact with three children under the age of 16. The victims told detectives that the contact had happened more than once. Police said the illegal activity happened at private homes in Boise over the past year. All three victims knew Angell, police said. The suspect could face up to life in prison if he is convicted. He is being held in the Ada County Jail, and will make his first court appearance Thursday. Anyone with information about this case can call Crime Stoppers at 208-343-COPS or submit an online tip at

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2013/07/25/2670748/police-suspect-sexually-abused.html

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho -- Police issued a warrant Wednesday for the man accused of kidnapping and raping a 13-year-old girl. Michael Nixon, 31, was hospitalized Monday following a nine-hour standoff with authorities. He suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound according to police. Police said they plan to arrest Nixon when he is released from the hospital. Officers were called to Nixon's house on Monday when the girl reported that Nixon sexually assaulted her. She said he held her against her will. Nixon's bond has been set at $500,000.

IDAHO FALLS - Idaho Falls Police arrested 31-year-old Steven L. Sargent Thursday on a warrant for lewd conduct with a child under 16 and sexual abuse of a child under 16. Sargent of Idaho Falls was booked into the Bonneville County Jail. According to reports, officers arrested Sargent following an investigation into him inappropriately touching a nine-year-old boy. The incident was reported to police on Monday.

http://www.idahostatejournal.com/news/local/article_f740d5a4-f609-11e2-baf1-0019bb2963f4.html