Hearing set in L&L case

SANDPOINT — A preliminary hearing is set for today in the case of a former Bonner County man accused of having a sexual relationship with an underage teen.

Matthew Lee Stradley is charged with lewd and lascivious conduct with a 13-year-old girl earlier this year. Judge Barbara Buchanan ordered Stradley held on Feb. 8 on $50,000 bail.

Stradley, a 31-year-old from Everett, Wash., has been ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim in the case and a public defender has been appointed to represent him, court records show.

Stradley is accused of having sex with the teen in January and February. The alleged misconduct occurred while he was living in Blanchard.

Stradley allegedly confessed when he was questioned by Bonner County Sheriff’s investigators, according to court documents.

Stradley can either waive today’s hearing and proceed to arraignment in 1st District Court or compel the state to put up enough evidence to convince a judge that a trial is justified.