Man pleads guilty to sexual abusing two juvenile relatives - East Idaho News
Crime Watch

Man pleads guilty to sexual abusing two juvenile relatives

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REXBURG — An Upper Valley man pleaded guilty on Monday to sexually abusing his step children.

Javier Lionel Silvas, 48, appeared in district court and entered a plea on two felony charges of sexual abuse of a child.

Court documents show the female victims, an 8-year-old and a 13 or 14-year-old, were Silvas’ step-children and lived in the home with him and their mother.

Silvas pleaded guilty to one abuse charge for each girl. The state alleged, and Silvas later admitted, to fondling the girl’s chest in a sexual manner.

Originally, Silvas was charged with four felonies — three charges of sexual abuse of a child and a lewd conduct charge.

Silvas’ guilty plea was part of a non-binding plea agreement with the Madison County Prosecutor’s Office. Prosecutor Sid Brown agreed to dismiss two of the felonies, one of which alleged Silvas used his hand to touch the younger victim on her genitals.

Brown also agreed to recommend Silvas be sentenced to a Rider program within the Idaho Department of Correction.

Since the plea agreement is non-binding, District Judge Gregory Moeller is not required to follow the agreement, but will consider it along with Silvas’ risk assessment and psychosexual evaluation results.

Following Silvas’ guilty plea, Brown asked Silvas be allowed contact the with the two victims on the mother’s request.

“I’ll leave that to the wisdom of the victims mother to decide.” Moeller replied to Brown’s request.

Moeller ordered a presentence investigation along with a psychosexual evaluation for Silvas.

Silvas remains in the Madison County Jail on a $100,000 bond while he awaits sentencing in August.

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