Couple accused of sexually abusing and exploiting a 4-year-old
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EDITOR’S NOTE: This story contains graphic and disturbing details regarding an alleged sexual assault. Reader discretion is advised.
RIGBY — A Rigby couple has been arrested after allegedly sexually abusing a child and using a cell phone to take pornographic photos of the abuse.
Elizabeth Dawn Evans, 27, and Joseph Harris, 30, are accused of sex crimes that took place in Jefferson County with a 4-year-old girl. Court documents show the incidents occurred between January and February.
Jefferson County detectives, with the assistance of a Bonneville County detective, obtained a warrant to search a home on Broadway in Idaho Falls on March 6. Deputies confiscated three mobile devices from the residence where they found a disturbing image of the child engaging in a sex act with Harris. The image of child pornography, which was found among other pornographic images of the two adults, was taken by Evans.
Detectives also discovered Evans had sent a nude photo of herself and Harris along with a text message to an older female relative inviting her to join the couple and the child for sex.
Both Evans and Harris admitted to being high during the incident.
During interviews with detectives, Evans said she refused the proposition from Harris after coming down from their high, according to court documents. Detectives also showed Evans a list created by Harris, which indicated he wanted to have sex with the child.
When detectives showed Harris the lewd photo of he and the child, he said he did not remember ever doing such a thing with the child. Court documents show he then later told police he recognized a tattoo on his private area, and said he was getting high at the time and has no recollection of doing that to the victim.
Harris also told the detective he wanted to “be with” the 4-year-old child once she was old enough.
Evans and Harris were booked into the Jefferson County Jail on March 8.
Evans has been charged with aiding or abetting lewd conduct, and sexual exploitation of a child. Harris is charged with one count of lewd conduct with a minor under sixteen, and two counts of sexual exploitation of a child.
Bond was set at $250,000 for Harris and $150,000 for Evans. The couple will appear in court on March 22 for a preliminary hearing.