Local man charged after admitting to having sex with 14-year-old girl
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BLACKFOOT — A 21-year-old local man was arrested after a harassment complaint led to the man admitting to having sex with a 14-year-old girl.
Hunter James Elmer of Blackfoot was charged with one felony count of lewd conduct with a minor under the age of 16.
If found guilty, he faces a maximum potential punishment of up to life in prison.
According to court documents, an officer with the Blackfoot Police Department responded to the complaint filed in February.
It states the officer contacted Elmer, “who admitted to having sex with a minor… who lived in Montpelier.”
In March, Montpelier Police were contacted to follow up with the 14-year-old girl Elmer spoke of, and in April, a forensic interview was conducted.
During the interview, the girl told officers she did have sex with Elmer in her room, but claimed it was not rape. She said this had occurred in November.
“She knew it was wrong because of the age difference and stated that after they were finished having sex, Hunter made a statement about how he shouldn’t have had sex with (the girl) because he knew it was wrong,” the document states.
Elmer is scheduled to appear before Magistrate Judge James Howard Barrett Jr. for a preliminary hearing at 8:30 a.m. on May 22.
Though Elmer has been charged with these crimes, this does not necessarily mean he committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.