Commission denies parole for Sagle man

BOISE — Parole is being denied for a Sagle man who carried on a sexual relationship with an underage teen and allegedly attacked her in a fit of jealous rage in 2015.

The Idaho Commission of Pardons and Parole denied parole in Eli Gunnar Zech’s case on April 22, according to the commission’s website. A new parole hearing date is set for April 2021.

Zech, 27, is serving an eight-year prison term for statutory rape and attempted strangulation.

Zech originally faced more than a half-dozen criminal charges in connection with the illicit relationship and a series of violent attacks which began in Sandpoint and continued in a vehicle bound for Zech’s home. The teen, who was 13 at the time, fled into the woods and sought refuge in a neighbor’s home, according to court documents.

Zech was initially charged with lewd and lascivious conduct in the case, but he pleaded guilty to amended charge of statutory rape. He was accused of suddenly attacking the teen after discovering she had exchanged text messages with a 19-year-old male, court records indicate.

Zech allegedly attacked the teen as she slept in a Sandpoint home by grabbing her by the hair and throwing her into a window which broke. Zech and the teen were ordered to leave the residence and the alleged attack continued as Zech drove to his home in Sagle.

The domestic violence allegations uncovered the unlawful sexual relationship, according to court documents.

Zech is serving his sentence at the Idaho State Correctional Institution in Kuna, according to the Idaho Department of Correction’s website.

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