All sexual abuse charges against Pocatello woman dismissed
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POCATELLO — All charges against a former MK Place worker have been dismissed “in the interest of justice,” according to Bannock County prosecutors.
Now the woman says she just wants to continue with her life.
Julie Ann Gewarges was charged in 2016 with two felony counts of soliciting a minor under 16, and two counts of felony sexual abuse of a minor under 16. It stemmed from a 2015 incident that occurred while she worked at MK Place, a residential treatment center specializing in young people 13 to 17 years of age.
One of the charged was dismissed by a judge in January 2017. The other three charges were dismissed on the recommendation of the prosecutor in October 2017.
Bannock County Prosecutor Zach Parris told EastIdahoNews.com the charges were dismissed because he felt he could not prove some of the aspects of the charges.
“When that circumstance arises, I have an ethical duty to not pursue the case,” Parris said.
Gewarges told EastIdahoNews.com in an email that she has spent two years fighting charges she says were false in order to establish her innocence.
“Even though criminally the charges are gone, socially I’m having a hard time with the shame and embarrassment of even being accused,” Gewarges said. “I would like to continue on with my life and career — but with a Google search of my name all of that can be very hard.”