Man denied early release

SANDPOINT — A Sandpoint who pleaded guilty to repeatedly molesting two preteen girls is being denied release onto parole, according to the Idaho Commission of Pardons & Parole records.

The commission considered John Theodore Cook for parole during a Sept. 18 hearing at the Idaho State Correctional Institution. The reasons for the denial are not contained on the commission's notice of action taken list posted to its website on Friday.

A request for summary minutes from the proceeding is pending with the commission.

Cook, 55, is serving a 10-year sentence after he pleaded to lewd and lascivious conduct with two preteens in the early 2000s. The girls were between the ages of 8-10 and 10-12 when the abuse occurred, according to court documents.

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