Alford plea agreement resolves PR rape cases

SANDPOINT — A Priest River man who picked up a new rape charge while awaiting sentencing on a pending rape charge has entered into a plea agreement to resolve both criminal cases.

Joshua Ray Bigelow-Geyer entered an Alford plea to a single count of rape, according to a pretrial settlement agreement. Under the terms of the plea, Bigelow-Geyer admits no wrongdoing but concedes he could be convicted if his case went before a jury.

Bigelow-Geyer, 21, is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 8 in 1st District Court. He faces up to life in prison, although the state is recommending concurrent four- to 10-year terms, court documents indicate.

Bigelow-Geyer was first charged with rape and lewd conduct in 2017, after allegedly having sex with a 13-year-old girl in 2016. The lewd conduct charge was dismissed in exchange for a plea.

While awaiting sentencing, Bigelow-Geyer allegedly raped another girl on March 11. The alleged victim told Priest River Police she had been drinking with Bigelow-Geyer and awoke to him having sex with her, according to a probable cause affidavit. He allegedly boasting spitefully to an ex-girlfriend at the home about having sex with the alleged victim, touching off a confrontation that ended with Bigelow-Geyer being ordered out of the home at gunpoint, the affidavit said.

A criminal complaint in the case said the victim’s resistance was overcome by intoxication or unconsciousness.

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