Sentencing delayed for psyco-sexual evaluation

A Bonners Ferry man’s sentencing for burglary and rape has been rescheduled to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday Feb. 10, so he can undergo a psyco-sexual evaluation.

Edward  Perez, 19, was originally scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 8.

On Sept. 10  Perez admitted to helping rob a man at his Moyie Springs home on Jan. 7.

While out on bond, Perez was then accused of having sex with a 13-year- old girl on April 2.  Perez also admitted to the charge of rape for the incident.  He has remanded to Boundary County Jail on a $500,000 bond.

The attorney for Perez, Michael Palmer, on Dec. 2 filed a motion to continue the sentencing hearing, citing that Perez and his family have been unable to come up with funds to pay for a psyco-sexual evaluation required prior to sentencing. 

Palmer also asked the court to approve public funds to pay for Perez’s evaluation, asking the evaluation be paid out of the District Court Fund, according to court records. 

When a person is charged with a serious crime, the evaluations required by the court can be paid at the public’s expense if a person is unable to provide payment.

Court records indicate Palmer and assistant prosecutor Sarah Hallcok-Jayne have communicated about the issue.   Hallock-Jayne said the prosecution would stipulate to an order for payment of evaluator if Dalton Lombard of Lewiston were employed to perform the required psyco-sexual evaluation.  The prosecution indicated the fee would be $875 and Lombard would travel here to perform the evaluation on Perez.