Man charged with two counts of lewd conduct to minors

BONNERS FERRY — A Boundary County man is being charged with two counts of lewd conduct with children under 16, both felonies.

On Jan. 20, Jason L. Williams, 65, was present at his preliminary hearing and is facing the two charges.

This contact with two minors allegedly took place several years ago, possibly when the victims were as young as 5 years old.

In a probable cause affidavit from Oct. 2, 2022, Boundary County Sheriff Deputy Jason Trujillo said he received a call from a reporting party. One of the victims' mothers said that she had just been informed by her daughter that Williams had touched her inappropriately “a few years ago.”

Around 2011, when the victim was 5 years old, she told BCSO that he would take her to the basement for “snuggle time.” While she lay on the bed in the basement, he would initiate “back tickles” where he would caress her back.

She said she remembers he would reach into her underwear and touch her “there.” She said she remembers it “felt weird” when he was touching her, according to court documents.

She told BCSO that this “snuggle time” occurred for the next six years when she visited. When she was around 11 years old in 2017, she said she gained the courage to tell him “no.” She said Williams would attempt to get close to her, but she would push him away.

She disclosed this information to her mother on July 24, 2022, because another girl had come forward alleging that Williams inappropriately touched her when she was younger.

On July 24, 2022, Trujillo interviewed the second victim, who told him that when she was 5 years old in 2007, Williams initiated sexual contact with her.

She said throughout her childhood and into her teenage years, she remembers inappropriate touching and contact on numerous occasions in various locations in the house.

When she was 13, the youth told law enforcement that she told Williams what he was doing was wrong. After that she said he stopped and never made another attempt.

She hadn’t spoken to anyone about the alleged incidents for seven years, but a few weeks prior to the interview she had posted a video on TikTok, a social media site.

Court documents say that in the video she said, “I still see that person a lot, no one around me knows….’cuz I haven’t told anyone around…I’m afraid of what would change if I did say.”

Court documents say once her mother saw the video, she confronted her about it.

Williams waived his preliminary hearing and is due in district court for arraignment Feb. 8 before District Judge Lamont C. Berecz.

In Idaho, there is no statute of limitations for cases involving the sexual abuse of minors. More information can be found at rainn.org or by calling 800-656-HOPE (4673). Local resources include Boundary County Victim Services at 208-267-5211, and Boundary County Sheriff’s Office at 208-267-3151. All agencies listed can be reached 24/7. BCVS is available to assist victims of all types of crime.