Prison is ordered lewd conduct case

SANDPOINT — A Bonner County man convicted of lewd conduct was ordered Monday to serve up to 10 years in prison.

Charles Keith Tallman will have to serve at least two years of the sentence before he can be considered for parole, according to the terms of the sentence imposed by 1st District Judge Barbara Buchahan.

Tallman, 68, was charged with fondling the genitals of an 8-year-old girl on April 3. The girl disclosed the incident to her grandmother after she accompanied Tallman on several errands in the greater Sandpoint area, according to court documents.

Tallman denied the allegations, clearing the way for a jury trial.

The alleged victim recounted the alleged sexual battery on the witness stand at a preliminary hearing and again at trial, court records show. Tallman took the stand in his own defense at trial to refute the allegations.

Jurors, however, voted unanimously to convict following a two-day jury trial in September.

Tallman reiterated his innocence at sentencing, court documents indicate.

Bonner County Deputy Prosecutor Nick Lepire recommended a sentence of 10 years to life, while Deputy Public Defender Susie Jensen sought a lesser sentence. Jensen argued that Tallman has an untreated mental health condition and is in generally poor health.

Buchanan ordered Tallman to serve up to 10 years, with two years fixed and the possibility of eight additional years, court documents said. Tallman was given credit for 234 days of pretrial incarceration.