Witness intimidation alleged in case
SANDPOINT — A Sandpoint man awaiting trial for statutory rape is accused attempting to influence his alleged victim’s testimony in advance of a preliminary hearing.
Jon-Kelly Bothwell, 37, is charged with witness intimidation, a felony. He made an initial appearance in Bonner County Magistrate Court Tuesday via video feed from the Bonner County Jail.
Judge Debra Heise set Bothwell’s bail at $5,000, court records show.
Bothwell is accused of carrying on a yearlong relationship with a runaway from Washington state from June 2015 to June 2016, according to a criminal complaint. The girl was between the ages of 16 and 17 at the time of the relationship, which court records indicate resulted in a pregnancy.
The alleged victim, now 18, told Sandpoint Police that Bothwell physically abused her during the relationship and supplied her with heroin and methamphetamine, a probable cause affidavit said. While living with Bothwell in Sandpoint, the teen lived under an assumed name and dyed her hair to avoid detection by authorities, the affidavit said.
Bothwell, the affidavit said, was aware that the teen was reported as a runaway from Yelm, Wash. Investigators believe Bothwell used his age and financial influence to manipulate the teen, court records indicate.
Bothwell allegedly sent the teen text messages in which he urged her to testify that the relationship occurred in her home state.
“I’d still be on the hook for child support but I wouldn’t be facing up to a life sentence,” Bothwell allegedly wrote in the text, referring to his prosecution in Idaho for statutory rape.
Bothwell allegedly sent the text on Dec. 30, 2016. A preliminary hearing in the rape case was set for Jan. 4, 2017.
Bothwell’s counsel moved to postpone the hearing so the defense had more time to prepare, but the motion was denied. Bothwell ultimately waived his right to the hearing, clearing the way for his arraignment in 1st District Court on Jan. 17, 2017.
A preliminary hearing on the witness intimidation charge is pending.
Bothwell is free on a combined bail of $10,000 while his cases are pending, court records indicate.