SANDPOINT — A Hope man has been sentenced to serve 10 years in prison for an injury to child charge stemming from a mid-January incident. 

Morgon Kenney, 40, was sentenced to 10 years in prison — four years fixed, six years indeterminate — after pleading guilty to one count of felony injury to child stemming from nonconsensual sexual encounters with a minor. While the reasoning of the charges is related to sexual assault, Kenney will not have to register as a sex offender due to the type of charge he pled guilty to.  

A brief victim impact statement was given at the time of sentencing, during which the girl told the court she was angry at Kenney for earning her family’s trust and breaking it. While the girl hasn’t forgiven Kenney for his actions, she said she hopes to forgive him in the future.  

Prosecutor Louis Marshall recommended a 10-year sentence — five years fixed, five years indeterminate — citing Kenney’s lack of accountability and criminal history. Kenney is currently on parole for a federal crime of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He is expected to face additional penalties for pleading guilty to a felony while on federal parole. 

“At his age, as an adult who’s not in his twenties, he should really have known better,” Marshall said.  

Defense attorney Dana Bowes requested a shorter sentence of 90 to 120 days, asking the court to allow federal authorities to appropriately sentence him. She said that Kenney felt apologetic about the crimes and had a lot to learn, despite his age. 

However, when given the opportunity to speak, Kenney showed no signs of remorse or accountability. He thanked family members who attended the hearing and told the court his family was the only victims, blaming the girl and her family for his incarceration. 

“It’s not my fault I’m here, I’m an innocent man and I’m innocent of the crime,” Kenney said. “They’re the only victims in this, that family took me away from them.”  

District Judge Susie Jensen handed the 10-year sentence from the bench, noting that Kenney had a criminal background, numerous issues in the Bonner County Jail and a lack of accountability. Jensen said that Kenney’s actions were the direct reason that he was sitting in front of the court.  

“You made a series of incredibly poor choices. It’s directly your fault,” Jensen said. “You made a dumb, dumb choice — you went partying with a 15-year-old. Your decisions and actions are what brought you and your family here. The court does not tolerate victim blaming and shifting blame.” 

Jensen further said that Kenney was the adult in the situation, relaying that he was responsible for making the right decisions. 

Kenney was originally charged with statutory rape, defined by sexual activity in which the victim is below the legal age of consent, rendering them unable to provide consent legally — the legal age of consent in Idaho is 18. The charge was ultimately amended to a lesser charge of injury to child after mediation, where Kenney entered an Alford plea.  

Under an Alford plea, a defendant admits no wrongdoing but concedes that a guilty verdict could result following a trial. The plea is treated no differently at sentencing than a standard guilty plea.    

Police became aware of the incident by way of a 911 call from Bonner General Immediate Care. Court documents indicate that the victim had disclosed to hospital officials that she had non-consensual sex with an older man. 

Officials from Bonner County law enforcement further investigated the situation, placing Kenney as the alleged aggressor. A probable cause affidavit suggests that Kenney supplied alcohol and psychedelic mushrooms to the victim before raping her at a friend’s residence. Additionally, documents contend that marijuana was provided after the assault. 

A probable cause affidavit shares that the victim reported to county deputies that she “couldn’t have given consent to Kenney because she wasn’t in the right mindset to say yes or no, because she was under the influence.”