Fournier enters Alford plea on amended charges
CHLOE COCHRAN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 months, 1 week AGO
(Photo by ANNISA KEITH)
SANDPOINT — A Bonner County resident scheduled for a mid-January trial has entered an Alford plea on amended charges of two misdemeanors relating to the battery of a child.
Jerrod Paul Fournier, 47, was expected to appear in court Dec. 29 for a pretrial conference on three felony charges of sexual battery. Instead, a plea deal was reached, where Fournier pleaded guilty via Alford to misdemeanor charges of sexual battery and injury to child.
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.
Because of the plea deal, a trial slated for January 12 has been vacated.
Fournier will be sentenced April 9 at 2 p.m.
Fournier was arrested mid-June on a $50,000 bond, for which he posted within that same period.
Court documents contend that Fournier committed the alleged battery in early 2024, inappropriately touching the victim by way of “lewd and lascivious” acts. Documents indicate that the girl was 16-17 years of age.
ARTICLES BY CHLOE COCHRAN
Change of plea set in Gabor case
A Bonner County resident facing severe allegations of child abuse and kidnapping is expected to enter a plea on the charges during a March 10 status conference.
Hope zone change request continued to May
A land use hearing for a requested zone change in Hope has been continued to May to allow the applicant time to address issues noted in letters from the Sam Owen Fire District and Bonner County Road and Bridge, among other claimed concerns found in the file’s staff report.
Ambulance district nears full separation from county
“We’re in a really good spot as an ambulance district,” Chief Jeff Lindsey said to the Bonner County commissioners during the Bonner County Ambulance District’s first March meeting.