Orofino man charged with four counts of sexual exploitation of a child
A 78-year-old Orofino man has been charged with four counts of sexual exploitation of a child.
A criminal complaint against William Campbell was filed Thursday by James W. Haws, deputy attorney general and prosecuting attorney. The complaint alleges that four times on Wednesday, Campbell possessed or accessed material of children ages 6-10 and 8-12 taking part in sexual acts, according to court documents.
Campbell made his initial appearance in Nez Perce County before Magistrate Judge Kent Merica with Haws as prosecutor appearing by Zoom. The maximum penalty for each charge is 10 years in prison as well as a $10,000 fine.
Merica ordered a $200,000 bond and appointed the law office of Magyar Rauch and Associates as public defender. Campbell’s next court date is Aug. 12.
In a news release, Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced the charges against Campbell through working with the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children.
“Police departments, sheriffs’ offices, and other agencies are participating at levels we’ve never seen before, all in cooperation to keep kids safe from predators and those that would exploit them online,” Labrador said in the news release.
Agencies that assisted in the task force include Homeland Security Investigations; Idaho State Police; the Lewiston, Moscow, Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls and Orofino police departments; and the Latah, Idaho and Nez Perce county sheriff offices.
