Hearing for man accused of lewd conduct with a minor postponed as witness unavailable

POCATELLO — The preliminary proceeding for a man accused of kidnapping a 15-year-old woman and forcing her to execute a activity enactment pinch him has been delayed.

Richard Walt Harkness, 43, is charged pinch 2 felonies, first-degree kidnapping and lewd behaviour pinch a minor.

His hearing, which was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, has been continued arsenic area constabulary hunt for nan victim, who ran distant from a attraction installation successful Boise. During nan prelim, prosecuting lawyer Erin Tognetti informed Thompson that nan woman was placed successful nan installation pursuing Harkness’ apprehension but precocious went missing.

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At a preliminary hearing, nan judge hears grounds from witnesses and nan victim, past decides if probable origin exists justifying a trial.

Harkness, constabulary reports show, came successful interaction pinch nan unfortunate erstwhile she was stepping connected East Center Street successful Pocatello, adjacent nan underpass, and offered her a thrust home. Once she was successful nan car, nan unfortunate told officers, Harkness drove her to a secluded area adjacent nan train tracks successful municipality and demanded she execute a activity enactment pinch him.

After, Harkness allegedly gave nan woman $40 past drove her location — but dropped her disconnected respective blocks from her home. She said that during nan drive, Harkness told her he was not being “creepy” but was conscionable “really horny.”

Harkness’ defense attorney, Curtis Smith, did not entity to Tognetti’s petition to proceed nan hearing, saying he is “perfectly comfortable” pinch nan continuance. This is nan 3rd clip a preliminary proceeding for this lawsuit has been continued.

Thompson asked Tognetti if 3 weeks would beryllium a capable hold successful bid to find nan victim. Tognetti said she would beryllium concerned if nan 15-year-old woman was still missing successful 3 weeks.

A caller preliminary proceeding has been scheduled for June 26. Harkness remains free from jailhouse connected his ain recognizance.

Though Harkness has been charged pinch these crimes, it does not needfully mean he committed them. Everyone is presumed guiltless until they are proven guilty.

If he is recovered guilty, Harkness would look up to life successful prison.