Charges accrue against local man

SANDPOINT — Legal troubles are compounding for a Sandpoint man accused of sexual abuse in Oregon.

Preston Lee Carter is now facing five counts of lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor in Bonner County, court records show.

Carter, 19, is being held at the Bonner County Jail in lieu of $350,000 bail.

The Idaho charges emerged after Carter was arrested on a Harney County warrant alleging more than a dozen sex crimes in Burns, Ore.

A criminal complaint against Carter alleges five instances of sexual misconduct with a minor between April 1 and May 31, when the alleged victim was between the ages of 15-16. The teen told sheriff’s investigators that Carter had been involved in a series of non-consensual sexual encounters with her, which included sex and forced oral sex, according to a probable cause affidavit.

The Idaho charges emerged after an Oregon grand jury indicted Carter on 14 felony and misdemeanor sex charges. They include multiple counts of sexual abuse in the first, second and third degrees, rape in the second and third degrees, sexual misconduct and contributing to the sexual delinquency of minors, according to court documents.

Prosecutors in Harney County advised prosecutors here they are willing to extradite Carter back to Oregon to face the charges.

Carter allegedly told friends here he was being falsely accused of sexual misconduct in Oregon and claims to have passed at polygraph test, according to court documents.

Carter made an initial appearance in Bonner County Magistrate Court on Monday via videoconferencing with the Bonner County Jail.

Judge Tera Harden set Carter’s bail, entered a no-contact order in the case and appointed a public defender to represent him, according to court records.

A preliminary hearing in the Idaho case is set for Aug. 26. Lewd conduct is punishable by up to life in prison upon conviction.

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