Idaho Woman Gets Prison in Sex Case - Updated

(Canyon County, Idaho) Despite a plea agreement that specified recommendations for probation by both the prosecution and defense, 3rd District Judge Gregory Culet sentenced Laura Hester to prison for up to 10 years and imposed a permanent order that she not contact her victim..

Culet ordered Hester incarcerated because new evidence indicated she violated his previous order that she not contact the teenager.

Prosecutors accused Hester of making arrangements with a third party to establish a phone line so she could contact the boy in January. At the time, she had been released from custody and was awaiting her next court appearance.

Hester's attorney, John Prior, called the accusations "bold allegations" with no proof that Hester contacted the teen. But Culet said the evidence was "clear and convincing," and that telephone records and statements from the boy's mother and grandmother, who overheard the boy's end of the conversation, corroborated this account.

"I let you out of jail on a serious offense with one condition: no contact. And you violated it," Culet said to Hester. "Your credibility is gone. The violation of my order and contact of the victim is too much of a danger signal."

Culet said he would review the case within six months to reevaluate the possibility of probation. Otherwise, Hester will be eligible for parole in five years.


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Idaho Woman Guilty in Boy Sex Case
[Previous 12/10/08 post]
(Nampa, Idaho) A 33-year-old local woman, Laura Louise Hester, pleaded guilty to felony injury to a child, a charge reduced in accordance with a plea agreement with the prosecution to avoid trial.

Deputy Canyon County Prosecutor Aaron Bazzoli said at Friday's hearing that the boy's mother agreed to Hester's release while she awaits sentencing.

"She said she doesn't care whether she (Hester) spends another day in jail. She just wants her held accountable," Bazzoli said.

The mother's recorded telephone conversations with her son and with Hester were key evidence in the case, according to court records. In one call, the boy told his mom he had sex with Hester on two occasions and used a condom. In the other call, Hester told the boy's mother that she had sex with him once and also said she loved the boy and knew the difference in their ages was a problem.

Nampa police arrested Hester in August. According to court records, she admitted to police she had sex with the boy once. She said she knew it was wrong and blamed her actions on alcohol and her attraction to the teen.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 23rd. The conviction for child injury carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, however, it's reported that prosecutors and the defense counsel have agreed to recommend probation. District Judge Gregory Culet, however, is not bound by the recommendation.

Tip: Ron