Man charged with lewd conduct

SANDPOINT — A Bonner County man is facing a lewd conduct charge after alleged abuse came up during a counseling session and was reported to law enforcement.

Jeffrey Ray Williams, 52, was 44 years of age at the time of the alleged incident and the child was under the age of 10.

The girl was home alone with Williams when the alleged incident occurred, according to the affidavit of probable cause. She went outside to play and came back inside to ask Williams a question.

According to court documents, when she entered Williams room he was watching pornography and shaving his genitals. Williams then allegedly asked the girl if she wanted “to learn how to properly touch yourself,” according to court records.

The child told law enforcement that Williams touched the inside and outside of her genitalia.

The child told her mother, but Williams denied anything happened. When the youth told her counselor, Sandpoint Police were notified in late December 2020, prompting an investigation.

Due to a past criminal history, was charged with a persistent violator enhancement, in addition to the initial lewd conduct charge.

Lewd conduct with a minor under the age of 16 carries up to a life sentence. The enhancement carries a minimum of five additional years up to life imprisonment as well.

Williams is scheduled for a pretrial conference later this month and is set to go to trial at the Bonner County Courthouse on Dec. 12.