Trial set in lewd conduct case
(Photo courtesy BILL OXFORD)
SANDPOINT — A Spirit Lake man has been arrested on charges of lewd conduct and failing to register as a sex offender.
Currently held on $100,000 bond, William Henry Jordan, 63, pleaded not guilty during an arraignment hearing Thursday in front of First District Judge Lamont Berecz.
The victim, a 5 year old, told a 6 year old peer about the abuse taking place some time in late April or early May 2021. An adult overheard the conversation and alerted the victim’s parents.
In an Aug. 9 interview with Peggy Frye, victim advocate coordinator at LillyBrooke Family Justice Center, the victim alleged that Jordan orally assaulted her. She repeated the allegation two more times using the same words when questioned.
Jordan committed the assault at the victim’s home in Spirit Lake at some point during a five week period when Jordan was living there. The abuse occurred while everyone was outside besides the victim and her younger sister, the abuse stopped when other people came indoors, according to the victim’s interview in court documents.
Jordan, a Tier 3 sex offender, has already served a prison sentence in Michigan for a 2013 conviction of two counts of 2nd degree criminal sexual conduct.
“A Tier 3 sex offender is nationally classified under the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act as the most serious sex offender,” according to a probable cause affidavit by Bonner County Sherrif’s Office Detective Barry D. Reinink II. “They must update their address of residence every 3 months to remain in compliance with the legislation.”
Jordan moved to Idaho in April 2021, and has been living under the alias “Jordan Herny.”
Other previous cases include a 1982 case out of Santa Clara, California for assault with a deadly weapon. In addition, a 1985 case found Jordan guilty of burglary by forced entry out of Michigan, and in 1999, he was convicted on a lewd conduct charge in Florida.
Jordan has another open case in Bonner County for failing to register as a sex offender. A jury trial is scheduled for Dec. 20. If convicted, Jordan could see a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $50,000 fine.