SANDPOINT — A Bonner County woman accused of perjury in a court hearing is pleading to an amended charge of disturbing the peace, 1st District Court records indicate.

Brooke Heather Jensen changed her not guilty to the felony offense and entered an Alford plea to the misdemeanor offense. Under such a plea, a defendant admits no wrongdoing but concedes the prosecution could obtain a conviction if the case was put before a jury.

Jensen is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday.

Jensen, 34, was accused of lying under oath during a Child Protection Act shelter care hearing in March 2018. She allegedly falsely testified about whether or not she encouraged her daughter to leave a phone message with her father indicating she was afraid of him and made false claims of abuse against him.

Jensen was ordered to stand trial on the felony offense following a preliminary hearing in July in which her 8-year-old daughter testified despite defense efforts to keep the testimony out of open court.

Jensen pleaded not guilty to the felony and her defense counsel attempted to have the case dismissed because the child’s testimony was allowed. However, Judge Barbara Buchanan declined the motion, finding that witness competency is a matter of the court’s discretion and there was no showing Judge Justin Julian abused his discretion in finding that the child’s testimony was credible.

Civil mediation in the case was ordered in March, court records show.

Friends of Jensen, in addition to her counselor and pastor, filed 36 pages of letters attesting to the woman’s character and her devotion as a mother. Some also stated in the letters that they believed Jensen’s allegations against the child’s father were well-founded and ignored by authorities, according to court documents.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.