Case against Sagle man accused of sexually exploiting a minor expands

SANDPOINT — A criminal case against a Sagle man accused of luring a 13-year-old into sexual activity over the internet has expanded.

Justin Lyle Gibson was initially charged with enticing and sexually exploiting a child, but an amended criminal complaint adds three counts of lewd and lascivious conduct and three counts of statutory rape, 1st District Court records show.

Gibson, 33, pleaded not guilty to the charges and remains held at the Bonner County Jail with bail set at $10,000.

The allegations surfaced in May, after Bonner County sheriff’s investigators received a time-sensitive cyber tip from Facebook through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The social media network reported that a 13-year-old user was engaging in a sexual discussion online, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Excerpts of Facebook Messenger chats indicated that Gibson picked the teen up at the Sandpoint library on April 14 and he later asked if her whereabouts had been questioned. There was also an unambiguous discussion about their sexual activity, according to court documents.

Gibson also allegedly sent the teen a nude photo, but he was not successful in obscuring his identity, court records said.

Search warrant documents indicate that bedding, mobile phones, a laptop computer, digital video discs and five computer hard drives were seized as evidence in the case. Marijuana and drug pipes were also recovered, court records show.

Chief Public Defender Susie Jensen moved to Gibson to be released on his own recognizance or with a reduced bond because he is not a flight risk and has ties to the community, according to court records. Judge Barbara Buchanan denied the request, however.

Gibson pleaded not guilty to the charges and is scheduled to stand trial in December.

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