ID convict jailed in Oregon sex case

SANDPOINT - A former Bonner County man accused of having sex with an underage girl here three years ago has been jailed in Oregon for his alleged involvement in a sex abuse case.

Linn County Jail records show Jeremiah Allen Hamby is being held without bail for violating the terms of his probation in Idaho. He's also being investigated for hindering the prosecution of his brother and witness tampering, according to court documents.

Hamby, 25, was ordered in 2006 to serve two to five years in an Idaho prison after pleading guilty to a reduced charge of aggravated assault. District Judge Steve Verby retained jurisdiction, which meant Hamby was eligible for release after serving six months.

Hamby was charged with the statutory rape of a 16-year-old girl in August 2005, but the charge was downgraded through plea negotiations. Upon his release, his probation was transferred to the state of Oregon.

Hamby was arrested last month in Mill City during an investigation into allegations that his brother, Wesley Martin, repeatedly sexually abused a 9-year-old girl living in their home, court records show. Mill City is located about 75 miles southeast of Portland.

Martin, 34, is charged with first-degree sexual abuse, sodomy and rape. He's being held on $600,000 bail.

Hamby, court records allege, removed a hard drive from his brother's computer in an attempt to conceal images of child pornography and asked a relative to persuade Martin to change his statements to authorities to keep his parole from being revoked.

Court documents from Linn County further allege that Hamby observed some of the sexual assaults of the 9-year-old girl.