WALLACE — A Shoshone County judge sentenced Anthony Banker to 33 years in prison last week for his part in abusing a 4-year-old child, rejecting his request for probation and citing his continued denial of responsibility. 

District Judge Regina McCrea sentenced Banker, 39, to consecutive prison terms totaling 33 years, with 16 years fixed and 17 years indeterminate, on four felony injury-to-a-child convictions. He also received credit for 70 days already served on a conviction for destruction or concealment of evidence. 

The sentence comes more than two months after a jury found Banker guilty following a weeklong trial involving the abuse of Sage Bryant's son. 

Before sentencing arguments began, McCrea denied two defense motions. The first sought to prevent Cheryl Bryant, the child's grandmother and legal guardian, from addressing the court as the victim's representative. The second requested a new presentence investigation report. 

Deputy Prosecutor Britney Jacobs argued Cheryl Bryant qualified to speak on the child's behalf because she has served as his guardian and custodian since the case began in May 2025. McCrea agreed and denied the motion. 

The court also rejected defense arguments that the presentence investigation report contained information beyond the scope of Idaho law, finding that sentencing courts are expected to consider broad information when determining an appropriate sentence. 

Bryant then delivered a victim impact statement describing the lasting effects of the abuse, telling the court the child continues to exhibit signs of trauma and likely will for years to come. 

The case stems from a May 2025 investigation involving Banker and Bryant, who authorities alleged subjected Bryant's 4-year-old son to a series of abusive punishments while living at Banker's residence near Prichard. 

Investigators recovered videos, audio recordings and text messages documenting some of the abuse, including incidents involving restraints and cold-water punishment. The child was later hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, including two brain bleeds, a blood clot, critically low sodium levels and extensive bruising. He was flown from Shoshone Medical Center to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane for treatment. 

Bryant previously pleaded guilty to two felony counts of injury to a child and was sentenced to 20 years in prison in exchange for her testimony against Banker. 

Lead investigator Josey Stemrich of the Shoshone County Sheriff's Office also addressed the court, describing the emotional toll of investigating the case. The defense called four witnesses, including Banker's mother, aunt and two family friends.  

Prosecutors sought consecutive 10-year sentences on all four injury-to-a-child convictions, for a total of 40 years, and requested $5,000 in victim compensation and a no-contact order protecting the child for the duration of the sentence.  

Defense attorneys did not recommend a specific prison term but asked McCrea to impose a shorter sentence than Bryant received and to suspend any prison sentence in favor of probation. Banker also requested probation.  

"Ultimately, the court noted that the jury verdict contradicted the defendant’s continual denial of the allegations and the crimes committed against (the victim) warranted a prison sentence," Jacobs said. "In doing so, Judge McCrea analyzed each count independently, assigning sentences dependent on the severity of the facts supporting the charge."

The judge imposed a 10-year sentence, with eight years fixed, for the count involving brain bleeds suffered by the child; seven years, with two years fixed, for bruising caused by striking the child; nine years, with four years fixed, for restraining the child with a car seat, rope, handcuffs and a mask; and seven years, with two years fixed, for a count involving excessively cold showers and other punishments. All four sentences will run consecutively.  

McCrea also ordered Banker to pay $5,000 in victim compensation and extended a no-contact order protecting the child for the full 33-year term.  

Banker was not sentenced on a fifth injury-to-a-child charge. McCrea previously granted a Rule 29 motion acquitting him of the allegation, ruling prosecutors had not presented sufficient evidence for the jury to consider the charge. 

Following the hearing, Jacobs said the sentence reflected the seriousness of the crimes and the work that went into the investigation. 

"Our office is happy with the pronounced sentence in this case," Jacobs said. "It reflects the hard work of the Shoshone County Sheriff's Office in investigating this case and the victims who have had to persevere over a year and a half to achieve this justice." 

Under Idaho law, Banker may appeal the conviction and sentence to the Idaho Supreme Court, which reviews claims of legal error rather than questions of guilt or innocence.

Court records did not immediately indicate whether Banker plans to appeal the conviction or sentence.