Westra sentenced 25 years in lewd conduct case
CHLOE COCHRAN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 months, 1 week AGO
Westra, Dayle
Courtesy of IDAHO SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY
SANDPOINT — A former Bonner County resident has been sentenced to serve 25 years in prison for sexual abuse charges stemming from a 2009 incident.
Dayle Westra, 52, pled guilty pursuant to an Alford plea June 24 to one count of lewd conduct with a minor. As part of a plea deal, two additional counts of lewd conduct with a minor will be dismissed.
Under an Alford plea, a defendant admits no wrongdoing but concedes a guilty verdict could result following a trial. The plea is treated no differently than a standard plea of guilt at sentencing.
Westra will be sentenced to serve a total of 25 years in prison — 10 years determinate, 15 years indeterminate. He will get credit for two days of time served.
Westra is already registered on the national sex offender registry for crimes stemming from a December 2009 lewd conduct with a minor charge.
Due to the sensitive nature of the case, all court documents have been sealed from the public.
During a June change of plea hearing, Bonner County Prosecutor Louis Marshall told the court the allegations stemmed from a recorded call between Westra and the victim in which Westra allegedly admitted guilt to the conduct.
Westra was arrested on the charge Feb. 25, in Ada County, his county of residence.
In 2010, Westra faced similar charges in Bonner County after pleading guilty to molesting an 11-year-old girl, where he served two-and-a-half years in jail. He is currently on parole in that case until 2029.
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