Plea talks preceded criminal charge

SANDPOINT — A child sex abuse case was apparently resolved before a criminal charge in the case was filed.

Christopher John Sizemore was investigated by Sandpoint Police for lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor last year. The investigation was initiated after the 3-year-old girl turned up at Bonner General Health and reported pain in her vaginal area.

The girl underwent a forensic interview at the Children’s Advocacy Center in Coeur d’Alene. A physical examination was conducted, but it revealed no injuries. However, doctors said the finding did not conclude that the child wasn’t abused, according to court records.

Sizemore, 24, declined to be interviewed by police when he was confronted with the allegations, court records indicate.

The investigation commenced in September 2016 and culminated in the filing of a felony injury to child charge earlier this month. Bonner County Prosecutor Louis Marshall advised the court on Feb. 13 that the case was being resolved with Sizemore pleading guilty to the felony injury charge, court filings show.

Sizemore was issued a criminal summons and made an initial appearance in Bonner County Magistrate Court on Friday. He remains free on his own recognizance.

Judge Lori Meulenberg declined to find probable cause for the charge during the Feb. 13 hearing because no evidence had been presented which demonstrated the girl suffered great bodily harm. Marshall said state and case law takes into consideration the harmful psychological impacts of sexual abuse.

Although a finding of probable cause remains pending, Sizemore is still being prosecuted for the felony offense, court records indicate.

Sizemore’s prior criminal record in Idaho consists of a misdemeanor drunken driving conviction in 2015, according to the Idaho Supreme Court Data Repository.