Bonners Ferry man charged with sex crimes against minor

BONNERS FERRY — A local man faces charges of lewd and lascivious conduct and child sexual abuse with a minor under the age of 16, both felonies. 

Kerry John Field, 73, faces the charges after allegations from a minor child claiming that, while visiting homes where Field was in Coeur d’Alene and Bonners Ferry, he allegedly placed his hands down her pants. 

In a probable cause affidavit, Bonners Ferry Assistant Chief Marty Ryan wrote that a forensic interview with the minor took place at the Children Advocacy Center in Coeur d’Alene on Oct. 12, 2022. During the recorded interview, the minor said she didn’t want to tell anyone because “people may think I wanted it to happen.” 

In the alleged second incident in Bonners Ferry, the minor alleges that when she was at the home watching a movie he also rubbed her breasts and placed his hands in her pants. 

In an interview with Ryan, Fields claimed the minor and other youths were at the home to watch movies. However, during that visit, the minor was crying on his couch and he went to comfort her and wipe away her tears. 

Field claimed that this took place after an altercation with the minor’s parents and that her tears were due to her being “wired with a recording device” in an attempt to catch him. 

In the interview, Ryan said Field initially denied the children ever sat on his lap, but after being challenged on the claim, he said he would have each child on his leg. He then admitted he would “cuddle on the couch” with the children and on his lap.

Ryan wrote in a probable cause affidavit “mannerisms of dishonestly were constant throughout our time together. His long meandering expression of events, threaded with accusations against [guardians].” 

He added Field’s response to events would be examples of misdirection. 

Lewd and lascivious conduct upon the body of a minor under 16 holds a maximum penalty of life in prison. Sexual abuse of a minor under 16 holds a penalty of 15 years. 

In 1985, Field was convicted of lewd and lascivious conduct upon a minor under the age of 14. 

A pretrial conference is set for Feb. 7 with a trial date of March 7.