Local man pleads not guilty in child enticing case

BONNERS FERRY — A local man plead not guilty to two counts of enticing minors through the internet on July 19.

Ronald Thurmaan Childers II, 29, being held on $150,000 bond on two felony charges of enticing a minor under 16 through the internet or other communication device. While charges were amended May 26 to include two counts of lewd conduct with a minor under 16, they have since been dismissed without prejudice by motion of the prosecutor. By being dismissed without prejudice, prosecution can refile the charges at a later date.

At the arraignment, defense attorney Catherine Enright asked the court to release Childers on his own recognizance or, failing that, to reduce his bond. She said her client lives locally and is not a flight risk and argued that bond was excessive and violated Childers’ right to due process.

First District Judge Lamont C. Berecz noted this was the third time bond was addressed by the court and that it was reduced at the preliminary hearing and is set appropriately. As with two other judges who presided over the case ruled that community safety must be taken into consideration and denied bond reduction.

A pre-trial conference is scheduled for Sept. 20 at 10 a.m. and a jury trial is scheduled for Oct. 10 at 9 a.m.