Man with lengthy criminal history sent to prison for producing child pornography
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BLACKFOOT — A convicted felon is now also a convicted sex offender who will spend a number of years in prison.
Logan Khaide Kniffen, 30, was ordered by District Judge Darren B. Simpson to spend five to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to felony sex abuse by producing child pornography. As part of a plea agreement made with Bingham County prosecutors, an additional charge of child sex abuse for having sexual contact with a minor was dismissed.
Kniffen became known to Idaho officials due to a burglary in Montana in 2017. He was convicted and sentenced to prison for that crime. During the investigation, Montana authorities found Kniffen’s tablet that contained child pornography made by Kniffen. Authorities determined Kinffen made the pornography in Blackfoot and called the Blackfoot Police Department.
Local authorities determined the images were of an elementary-school-aged girl known to Kniffen but not related to him. During the investigation, local detectives spoke with a local woman who had had a romantic relationship with Kniffen. She told police Kniffen had expressed a sexual interest in children.
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When detectives spoke with Kniffen, he said he did not know the girl or remember taking the photos. He said he wasn’t sure how the photos ended up on his tablet and said many other people used them.
Nevertheless, Bingham County prosecutors filed the child pornography charges against Kniffen in 2017. He wasn’t arraigned in Blackfoot until June though, since he has been serving time in Montana.
Kniffen remained in Montana’s prison system until he was transferred to the Bingham County Jail. He will be serving the remainder of his sentence — for Idaho and Montana crimes — in an Idaho prison.
Court records indicate Kniffen has a lengthy criminal history in Idaho, with dozens of previous cases.
Simpson also ordered Kniffen to pay $3,745.50 in fees and fines.