Child sexual exploitation case now at federal level

A child sexual exploitation case from Nez Perce County has been moved up to the federal level.

Jesse E. Burnett, 40, of Lewiston, had his charges dismissed in July and the case was then brought to the U.S. District Court in Idaho. In Nez Perce County, he was charged with sexual abuse of a child, child sexually exploitative material and faced a mandatory minimum sentencing enhancement as well as a persistent violator enhancement, all felonies. The probable cause affidavit for the case alleges that Burnett messaged a 10-year-old on an app called Randomly and sent and received nude photos. He also has two previous convictions in Latah County for lewd conduct and sexually exploitative material, according to court documents.

The indictment in the federal case against Burnett reads that between April 18 and May 8 in Idaho Burnett allegedly attempted to entice a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct that would be transmitted by interstate commerce. It also alleges that Burnett as a registered sex offender committed a felony offense involving a minor and the alleged action occurred after his conviction of sexual exploitation of child and lewd conduct with a minor in Latah County, according to court documents.

Burnett faces a 25 to 50 years in prison, with supervised release of five years to life, a $250,000 fine and a $5,100 special assessment for attempted sexual exploitation of a child. He also faces 10 years in prison for the charge of committing a felony involving a minor while registered as a sex offender, according to court documents.

A motion for detention was filed July 18 and Burnett waived his right to a detention hearing. He is now in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service, according to court documents.

Burnett appeared July 22 before U.S. District Magistrate Judge Candy Dale in federal court in Coeur d’Alene. A jury trial is scheduled for Sept. 9 before U.S. District Judge David Nye in Coeur d’Alene, according to court documents.

Adam Johnson, assistant U.S. attorney, is handling the case for the U.S. District of Idaho. J. Stephen Roberts Jr. and Amy Rubin from the Federal Defenders of Eastern Washington and Idaho are representing Burnett, according to court documents.

Burnett was held in Nez Perce County on a $1 million bond in June, one of several cases in recent months that have resulted in high bond amounts for those who allegedly committed offenses of a sexual nature against minors.

In July, Dakota R. Hall, 24, of Lewiston, was given a $1 million bond for lewd conduct with a child under 16, a felony. His next court date is a competency evaluation Friday.

Last week, Michael B. Hendren, 34, of Lewiston, was held on a $1 million bond for four counts of child sexual abuse, three counts of child sexual battery and three counts of enticing children over the internet, all felonies. His next court date is a preliminary hearing Wednesday.

Also last week, Shelby T. Ward, 30, of Lewiston, was ordered a $1 million bond for three counts of lewd conduct with a child as well as a mandatory minimum sentencing enhancement, all felonies. His next court date is a status conference hearing Aug. 19.

Hall, Hendren and Ward are still in custody at the Nez Perce County Jail.

Cases using a phone or internet across state lines, like distributing or soliciting child sexually exploitative material, can be taken to the federal level. Some Lewiston detectives work with and are deputized by the FBI and some Nez Perce County prosecutors are special assistants with the U.S. attorneys office, which means local agencies have better access to bring cases to the federal system. While not every case goes to the federal level, Nez Perce County Chief Deputy Prosecutor April Smith said they look for the best way to get punishment and accountability in the cases they work, according to previous reporting in the Lewiston Tribune.

Brewster may be contacted at kbrewster@lmtribune.com or at (208) 848-2297.