Judge denies rider and gives prison time for injury to a child

Braxton Adams during his sentencing. | Kaitlyn Hart, EastIdahoNews.com

IDAHO FALLS — A 38-year-old man is successful situation aft a judge denied requests from some nan prosecution and defense for him to beryllium sent connected a rider program.

District Judge Michael Whyte sentenced Braxton Adams to a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 10 years successful situation for felony wounded to a child.

Adams initially pleaded not blameworthy to felony lewd behaviour pinch a kid but signed a plea statement successful April agreeing to plead blameworthy to an amended complaint of felony wounded to a child.

RELATED | Man arrested aft allegedly raping 12-year-old aggregate times successful 2018

As portion of nan agreement, he besides pleaded blameworthy successful different lawsuit to felony expansive theft and admitted aggregate probation violations. For this lawsuit he was sentenced to a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 5 years successful prison.

Both sentences will tally concurrently.

In exchange, nan prosecution agreed to driblet a 3rd lawsuit against Adams for felony burglary and misdemeanor malicious wounded to spot and urge “no worse than a retained jurisdiction” astatine sentencing.

The statement was not binding connected nan court, and Whyte chose not to travel it, alternatively imposing a situation sentence.

Sentencing

During nan sentencing, Adams’ defense attorney, Paul Butikofer, called a witnesser to nan stand, Kevin Beyerlein, an worker astatine One Love, an outpatient programme for group pinch constituent maltreatment and intelligence wellness problems.

Beyerlein said he did not cognize Adams personally but attested that Adams has been accepted into a curen programme and tin get thief uncovering lodging if he is put connected probation, arsenic Butikofer based on for.

“We don’t person immoderate lodging astatine this moment, but we tin thief him find housing,” said Butikofer. “Sometimes we tin get him into nan rescue ngo aliases different places that tin thief him.”

RELATED | Man arrested successful stolen pickup motortruck aft driving done fences into fields

Butikofer past told nan tribunal Adams had antecedently been connected a retained jurisdiction aliases rider successful 2018 and completed it without immoderate violations. He besides based on Adams was introduced to narcotics and intoxicant astatine a young property and is remorseful for what he did.

Braxton Adams | Bonneville County Jail

“Mr. Adams has expressed remorse. He besides expressed that he feels horrible astir his victims,” said Butikofer. “He started drinking astatine 14, and it turned to marijuana and methamphetamine astatine that aforesaid age.”

Bonneville County Prosecutor Division Chief Jefferey Thomason based on for a retained jurisdiction aliases rider for Adams pinch an underlying condemnation of a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 10 years successful prison. He besides stated Adams has continually denied having intersexual interaction pinch nan victim.

“Mr. Adams indicates successful nan Pre-Sentence Investigation successful respect to nan wounded to a kid charge, he says, ‘I touched a child, which caused intelligence anguish. I consciousness very bad, I harmed nan unfortunate and caused intelligence problems for nan victim. I wish I could return backmost nan crime. I will enactment successful betterment to support my sobriety,” said Thomason. “It appears Mr. Adams is refusing to admit to immoderate intersexual contact.”

RELATED | Man sentenced to rider programme aft DUI joyride successful stolen truck

Adams gave a short connection to nan tribunal earlier being sentenced, saying he takes work for his actions and noticing his caller sobriety.

“I return afloat accountability for my actions your honor, and I’m very remorseful. I tin successfully complete treatment. I’ve successfully completed supplier tribunal before, and that’s nan champion I’ve ever done successful my life,” said Adams. “I look guardant to staying sober, I’ve been sober since February.”

Whyte past explained his ruling earlier pronouncing sentence, saying Adams has 5 erstwhile felony convictions and a probation violation, which doesn’t “bode well” for his placement connected probation.

“You took work for your actions, but you denied that immoderate of your interaction pinch nan victims was of a intersexual nature. You do person a important criminal history, including 5 erstwhile felony convictions,” said Whyte. “Your probation serviceman has recommended that I revoke your probation.”

Background

On July 19, 2021, an Idaho Falls Police serviceman followed up connected a study from a insignificant disclosing that Adams had sexually abused her successful 2018 erstwhile she was 12 years old, according to tribunal documents.

During a forensic question and reply pinch nan victim, she said Adams entered her chamber astatine nighttime and raped her astatine slightest 4 times. She estimated this happened astir July 2018.

She besides stated Adams would touch her inappropriately and “grab her thighs successful nan car.” She told officers that astatine 1 constituent during nan abuse, Adams reportedly threatened her by saying, “Remember what I said astir your mom.”

On September 9, 2021, nan unfortunate and an big comparative attempted to face Adams complete nan telephone astir nan abuse, which he denied. He reportedly admitted to “holding (the victim’s) manus but denied intersexual contact,” according to tribunal documents.

He besides denied claims that he said to nan big comparative astir nan minor’s breasts.

Officers met pinch Adams astatine his location connected October 1, 2021. When asked astir nan allegations, Adams denied them and told officers that a 19-year-old man was abusing nan unfortunate and that it had been reported astatine a section mediate school.

Officers investigated and recovered nary reports involving nan victim. The big comparative and nan unfortunate besides denied nan claims.

A warrant was issued for Adams’ apprehension connected June 7, 2023, and he was booked into nan Bonneville County Jail.