SANDPOINT — A Sagle man accused of committing sexual abuse against a minor has entered a not guilty plea on the charges.  

On Feb. 17, Christopher Dean Markel, 41, pleaded not guilty to six felony accounts of lewd conduct with a minor under 16 and one felony count of rape, where the victim is under 16.  

Markel is facing up to life in prison for the allegations and may have to register on the national sex offender registry if found guilty.  

He is expected to appear in court March 31 for a pretrial conference, with a jury trial slated for April 22.  

Officials became aware of the alleged abuse by way of a 911 call from the victim’s mother, who shared concerns about Markel’s alleged actions. According to court records, the abuse took place between September 2021 and October 2024.  

Markel was later arrested Jan. 21 and booked into the Bonner County Jail, where he currently resides on a $350,000 bond.  

Anyone who suspects sexual abuse should call the Bonner County Sexual Abuse 24/7 hotline at 208-265-3586.