85-year-old I.F. man will plead guilty to lewd conduct with a child
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IDAHO FALLS – A local man pleaded guilty to felony lewd conduct with a minor as part of a plea agreement.
Charles Carroll, 85, entered into a plea deal Tuesday morning in a Bonneville County courtroom. The deal stipulates that he will plead guilty to lewd conduct with a minor under the age of 16. In return, the prosecution will limit his sentencing to the recommendation of a pre-sentencing investigation.
The investigation requires Carroll to undergo a psycho-sexual evaluation to determine the likelyhood of a repeat offense as well as a polygraph test to ensure he has no other victims.
The deal is contingent that Carroll fully cooperate with the investigation. Failure to do so will allow the prosecution to seek whatever sentencing they see fit.
Carroll is accused of engaging in lewd conduct with a 4-year-old girl who he says was like a granddaughter to him.
In a June interview with EastIdahoNews.com, Carroll said he was wearing a robe and no underwear while sitting in his dining room smoking a cigarette. The girl and her mother were at his home.
“My robe had become partially open and I didn’t correct it,” Carroll said. “She walked over and out of curiosity, I’d say, started handling my genitals.”
Carroll said this went on “for three or four minutes” and when asked why he didn’t stop her, he replied, “That’s a good question for which I do not have a good answer. I did not encourage her, but I did not discourage her. I wish I would have, but I did not.”
The specific plea Carroll will enter is an Alford plea – which means he admits there may be enough evidence for a jury to find him guilty but he still maintains that he is innocent.
Carroll was arrested earlier this year after police were informed of inappropriate contact he allegedly had with a 4-year-old girl.
The victim lived with her mother in the same apartment complex as Carroll and they were familiar with each other.
Her mother found her as Carroll was exposing himself to her daughter, according to court documents. The victim told prosecutors of other sexual acts he performed on her.
Carroll is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 18 in Bonneville County.