Sex abuse suspect pleads guilty

SANDPOINT — A Sagle man pleaded guilty Thursday to exposing himself to a 5-year-old girl and soliciting a sex act.

Gary Wade Baughn is scheduled to be sentenced on a felony charge of sexual abuse of a minor by solicitation on April 18. The charge is punishable by up to 25 years in prison, although the state is recommending an unspecified prison term with retained jurisdiction.

Retained jurisdiction qualifies Baughn for release onto probation after serving as little as six months in prison. Baughn would have to register as a sex offender.

Baughn, 50, allegedly approached the girl on Sept. 29, exposed himself and asked the youngster if she wanted to touch his genitals.

He was further accused of going to the girl’s home with the intent of exposing himself again, according to a Sandpoint Police report.

In exchange for a plea of guilt on the sex abuse charge, a charge of stalking was dismissed, according to court documents.

Baughn entered the plea during a pretrial conference in 1st District Court.

Baughn was originally held in lieu of $100,000 bail, but it was subsequently reduced to $40,000. It was reduced to $5,000 on Thursday as part of the plea agreement with the state.