Man pleads not guilty to lewd conduct

SANDPOINT — A Bonner County man pleaded not guilty to one count of lewd conduct with a child under 16 and one count of enticing a child through the use of the internet or other communication device at his arraignment Thursday.

The Daily Bee is not publishing the name of the defendant at this time because that could reveal the identity of the victim. The Daily Bee does not identify the names of alleged victims.

The 35-year-old Bonner County man allegedly had contact with a 13-year-old girl through the social media app Snapchat, according to court documents. Over a period of several months, inappropriate “flirty” messages and revealing pictures were shared between the two, police said in court records.

In spring 2023, the defendant allegedly picked up the youth in his vehicle and had sexual contact with her. The youth told a forensic interviewer that she did not feel she could say no, according to court documents.

Multiple people close to the defendant allegedly told police that he admitted to lewd conduct with the youth, according to court documents. The individuals said the defendant showed remorse for what had occurred and had become suicidal.

The defendant allegedly contacted law enforcement early in the case to “speak with someone” about allegations he heard had been made against him, naming the 13-year-old girl as the one potentially making the allegations, but said he would not speak further without legal counsel.

During a forensic interview, the girl said the defendant made her delete all messages between them and told her not to tell anyone about what had happened between them, according to court records.

The trial has been set for April.