Mandatory minimum sought in lewd case

SANDPOINT — Bonner County Prosecutor Louis Marshall is pursuing a mandatory minimum sentence against a former Sandpoint man accused of lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor.

A hearing on the state’s motion in Steven Ronald Ennis Jr.’s case is set for Dec. 11.

Ennis, 53, is accused of having sexual contact with Bonner County girl between 2014 and 2015, when she was between the ages of 11 and 12. He’s further accused of touching the girl’s breasts and exposing her to a pornographic video, resulting in two additional counts of sexual abuse of a minor.

The state is seeking a 15-year mandatory minimum sentence because Ennis is a repeat offender due to a 2005 conviction for a crime analogous to statutory rape in Idaho, according to court documents.

The allegations against Ennis — also known as Whitney Embrey, Tristin Davis and Eric David Clary — emerged last Junem when the alleged victim reported him to Sandpoint Police and said he needed to be held accountable for his actions, court records show.

The alleged victim testified at a preliminary hearing in August, which led to Ennis being bound over to stand trial in 1st District Court.

Ennis is being held at the Bonner County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Ennis faces up to life in prison if convicted of the lewd conduct charge. The sexual abuse of a minor is punishable by up to 25 years in prison.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.