SANDPOINT — A Blanchard man who pled guilty to a charge of lewd conduct with a minor has been sentenced to serve seven years in prison with a retained jurisdiction.  

Donald Charles Kuehn, 25, was sentenced to a one-year retained jurisdiction, also known as a rider. If he fails to complete the rider successfully, he could serve the full seven-year sentence — four years determinate and three years indeterminate. 

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 Corrections facility but remain 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.   

Kuehn will also receive credit for time served.  

The sentence came from a pretrial settlement agreement, where the prosecuting attorney recommended the rider with an open recommendation for the underlying sentence.  

As part of the agreement, five charges of possession of child sexual exploitation material and one count of child sexual abuse were dismissed.  

According to an affidavit in support of a warrant, Bonner County Sheriff’s Office became aware of Kuehn’s alleged underage relationships after one of his victims reported his crimes by way of a 911 call.   

He was placed at the Bonner County Jail on Dec. 6, 2024.   

Court documents indicated that Kuehn’s first charge is related to the accusation of having sexual relations with several underage girls in the Blanchard area. A probable cause affidavit noted that his other five charges stemmed from alleged videos and pictures found on Kuehn’s phone of himself and his alleged victims engaging in sexual activities.    

Court documents also attested that alcohol and/or marijuana were in use during several of the alleged assaults.    

Anyone who suspects sexual abuse should contact the Bonner County sexual abuse 24/7 helpline at 208-265-3586. For an alternate helpline, call 208-263-6714.