Bannock County man charged with rape
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LAVA HOT SPRINGS — A man who allegedly used physical force to rape a juvenile has been charged.
Braxton John Foster, 19, faces a felony charge for rape, court records show.
The Bannock County Sheriff’s Office received a call reporting a sexual assault in Lava Hot Springs around 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8, according to an affidavit of probable cause. According to a family member, the victim was delivering food for a local restaurant and was assaulted by a customer.
Deputies went to the home of the victim, who was tentative about speaking. She said she did not want to get anyone into trouble.
She eventually did agree to speak with deputies, saying she and Foster were friends.
She said he requested nude photos of her, which she refused. He then made several sexual advances, which she also refused, the affidavit says.
Foster, she said, grabbed her by the arm and led her into a room. Inside the room, he grabbed her by the neck and shoved her against a glass cabinet. The victim said Foster assaulted her, despite her repeatedly telling him to stop. She said she was unable to move and was struggling to breathe.
Deputies requested the clothes the victim was wearing at the time of the attack. They also requested she go to Portneuf Medical Center for a rape kit examination.
Police reports do not show the age of the victim, but do say that she was under 18 at the time of the attack.
Foster was arrested the following day and booked into Bannock County Jail. He was released on his own recognizance with GPS monitoring and a no-contact order the same day.
Though Foster has been charged with this crime, it does not necessarily mean he committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until they are proven guilty.
If he is found guilty, Foster could face up to life in prison.
He is scheduled to appear in court before Magistrate Judge Scott Axline for a preliminary hearing Tuesday.