SANDPOINT — A Bonner County resident who pled guilty to a felony charge of voyeurism has been sentenced to retained jurisdiction for incidents that occurred throughout the year.  

Christopher Lawson, 56, was sentenced to serve a retained jurisdiction with an underlying sentence of five years — one year determinate, four indeterminate — for one count of felony voyeurism. As part of a plea deal, charges of second-degree stalking and assault were dismissed. 

He will also be fined $500 for the crime. 

Retained jurisdiction, commonly known as a rider, is available as a sentencing option to judges in Idaho. Individuals sentenced to a rider remain in an Idaho Department of Correction facility but are under the judge's jurisdiction while they receive necessary treatment and participate in required programs. A successful completion of a rider can result in supervised probation. If someone does not complete a rider, they may be sentenced to prison.   

Court documents indicate the voyeurism charge stems from Lawson putting a cellphone in the victim’s shower with the intent to capture her undressed.  

Documents further show that Lawson was charged with second-degree stalking for allegedly going to the same woman’s home and workplace and taking pictures of her car.   

Lawson also faced assault charges for allegedly threatening violent actions to the woman, punching her vehicle and yelling profanities — creating a profound fear to the victim.