WALLACE — A Silver Valley man who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing two of his children was sentenced Monday to 12 years in prison at the Shoshone County Courthouse. 

Robin Bainter, 37, received a sentence of six years fixed and six years indeterminate from Judge Lansing Haynes, who departed from both a pretrial settlement agreement and the wishes of one of the victim's mothers. 

Bainter was arrested in October 2025 and originally charged with two counts of sexual abuse of a minor younger than 16 and two counts of lewd conduct with a child younger than 16. He pleaded not guilty in November. 

In March, he accepted a plea agreement under which prosecutors agreed to dismiss the two lewd conduct charges and one sexual abuse charge in exchange for his guilty plea. 

Sexual abuse of a child younger than 16 carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a $50,000 fine. Under the agreement, prosecutors planned to recommend an 18-year sentence consisting of six years fixed and 12 years indeterminate. 

The charges stem from allegations reported to Osburn Police Officer David Bishop by the victim’s mother, who said her child had disclosed that Bainter had touched her inappropriately on multiple occasions. 

According to Bishop’s report, Bainter admitted to the conduct both during an interview with police and in text messages sent to the victim’s mother. Before the interview began, Bainter allegedly told Bishop, “I’m sorry, just take me,” according to a police affidavit filed in the case. 

Bainter later told the officer that the incidents occurred while he was taking a medication that caused “brain fog” and impaired his judgment, but said he would never touch his children “maliciously, intentionally, or hurtfully,” the report states. 

During Monday’s sentencing hearing, one of the victim’s mothers read an emotional statement and asked Haynes to impose the maximum sentence despite the plea agreement. 

“No amount of effort can restore what was broken,” she said. "My (child) should not have to carry a life sentence for what he did to her, while he, as the responsible person, receives anything less than the maximum accountability permitted by law."  

Shoshone County Deputy Prosecutor Britney Jacobs praised one of the victims for coming forward and said the plea agreement allowed the case to move forward without requiring the children to testify before Bainter, a jury and a courtroom full of strangers. 

One of the victims testified during a pretrial hearing, but Jacobs said she and the family were relieved the child would not have to do so again. 

“She did a wonderful job,” Jacobs said of the victim’s previous testimony. “But I know that that caused her even more harm.” 

In explaining the sentence, Haynes said he reduced the overall term because Bainter had no prior criminal history and because the offenses are not classified as violent crimes.