Trial ordered in perjury case

SANDPOINT — A woman accused of making false statements under oath has been bound over to stand trial on a charge of perjury, court records show.

Judge Justin Julian found there was sufficient evidence to justify trying Brooke Heather Jensen on the felony offense following a preliminary hearing in Bonner County Magistrate Court on July 24.

Jensen, 33, is accused of intentionally making false statements during a shelter care hearing under Idaho’s Child Protection Act in March 2018. Such proceedings are is not open to the public.

A criminal complaint alleges Jensen falsely claimed during the shelter care hearing that her ex-husband had sexually abused their daughters and/or claimed that one of their daughters was too afraid to stay with him.

The sexual abuse claims provoked an investigation by the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office, court records show.

Jensen invoked her right to remain silent during the preliminary hearing, in which a judge determines if it’s more probable than not that the defendant committed the offense. At trial, the state would face a more rigorous burden of demonstrating that a defendant is guilty beyond all reasonable doubt.

A Bonner County sheriff’s deputy testified, as did the couple’s 8-year-old daughter. The latter testified against the wishes of the defense, which argued her competency to testify should be questioned in the judge’s chambers, but Julian allowed the testimony, court records indicate. Defense witnesses included Jensen’s fiancé, records show.

Although there were some conflicts in the girl’s testimony, Julian found that her recollections of significant events related to the charge were sufficient to bind the matter over for trial in 1st District Court, records show.

Jensen is scheduled to be arraigned in district court on Aug. 12. She is free on a $5,000 bond while the case is pending.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.