Clashing portraits emerge in lewd case

SANDPOINT — Two sharply contrasting portraits are emerging of a lewd-conduct suspect who fled on the eve of his trial in 1st District Court.

Court documents and the alleged victim’s family paint Stephen Robert Reiling as child molester who confessed to inappropriate conduct with an 8-year-old girl. But friends and family of Reiling counter that the allegations were fabricated and contend there was no confession.

The dueling portraits were expected to emerge during Reiling’s trial this month, but the defendant pulled a disappearing act.

Reiling’s partner of 12 years said she doesn’t know where he is, but believes that he is in a safe place. She and friends believe Reiling fled because of fears that he would be railroaded at trial.

“He had to save his life as far as I’m concerned,” said the woman, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

A relative of the alleged victim, however, thinks Reiling left because his pretrial efforts to suppress incriminating statements failed. She said Reiling knew “his goose was cooked.”

Reiling, 54, is accused of molesting the girl in 2003. He pleaded not guilty.

Reiling’s girlfriend asserts that the alleged victim cooked up the accusations to get attention and reunite with her biological mother in California.

“She knows how to manipulate. She knows how to get what she wants,” the woman said.

Reiling’s partner added that falsely accusing someone of child molestation is becoming an increasingly popular weapon in scorched-earth-style character assassination.

“I feel it’s the new rape card,” she said.

Reiling’s partner said the allegations surfaced against a backdrop of existing bad blood between her family and that of the alleged victim over a property line dispute in their Sagle neighborhood.

The alleged victim’s family is convinced of Reiling’s guilt and point out that it’s no coincidence that his friends and family are coming to his defense. They suspect the defense is rooted in the scarcity of information about the case and bristle at favorable descriptions of Reiling.

“Nothing about Reiling is pretty. He has tormented and harassed (the alleged victim) for years,” said the girl’s relative, who also asked for anonymity.

Reiling is the subject of a $250,000 arrest warrant for failing to appear at trial.