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Accused rapist hit with another charge

by KEITH KINNAIRD
Hagadone News Network | February 2, 2021 2:50 PM

SANDPOINT — A Sagle man already facing charges for rape and lewd conduct is being charged with a third offense, court records indicate.

Jacob "Jake" James Orville Gunter is accused of raping an acquaintance at his Sagle home over the course of July 31-Aug. 1, 2020.

The alleged victim told a Bonner County sheriff's detective she and other companions crossed paths in a downtown bar and went back to his place to listen to music after the bar closed, a probable cause affidavit. After the other companions departed, the woman recalled sitting on a couch listening to music and watching television.

The woman said she awoke to Gunter raping her and repeatedly told him to stop, but he allegedly refused. The woman immediately disclosed what had happened to the person who rescued her from Gunter's home.

However, she didn't immediately notify authorities out of fear of Gunter, who had allegedly taken to following her in public places, cursed at her and told her she deserved what happened to her, according to the affidavit.

The woman is the second person to come forward with allegations against Gunter since his arrest for allegedly touching the genitals of an underage girl last December.

Another woman alleged Gunter raped her at a motel in 2019. In both rape cases, the alleged victims resisted by their resistance was overcome by force or violence, criminal complaints allege.

The second woman notified authorities of Gunter's misconduct after learning he had perpetrated similar misdeeds with other women.

Gunter, 28, is scheduled to be arraigned on the lewd conduct charge on Feb. 19. Judge Justin Julian upped Gunter's bail from $25,000 to $50,000 after hearing testimony in the child sex abuse case, records show.

Gunter was ordered held Monday in lieu of $10,000 bail in the latest case.

Preliminary hearings in the rape cases are set for Feb. 3 in Bonner County Magistrate Court.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com or followed on Twitter @KeithDailyBee