Bond was set at $1 million for a Lewiston man charged with three counts of lewd conduct with a child.
Shelby T. Ward, 30, also faces a sentencing enhancement with a mandatory minimum sentencing of no less than 15 years for child abuse. The sentencing enhancement states that Ward was convicted of rape of a child in the third-degree in Asotin County. The three felony counts involve incidents that took place in June with 10-year-old and 13-year-old victims, according to court documents.
Ward made his initial appearance Thursday before Magistrate Judge Sunil Ramalingam at the Nez Perce County Courthouse. The Nez Perce County Prosecutor’s Office requested a $1 million bond because of the risk to the community, which was granted by Ramalingam.
Lewiston police responded to a report of a sex offense from Colorado that took place on a visit in June at Ward’s residence. Lewiston police reviewed a recording of the Castle Rock Police Department interviews with the victims. One of the victims told police she fell asleep on a couch and woke up to Ward allegedly fondling her. Ward also allegedly molested another child in a bedroom and in another incident he allegedly molested the child over her pants, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Lewiston detectives spoke with Ward, who didn’t want to speak without an attorney present. He was then placed under arrest and taken to the Nez Perce County Jail. Lewiston detectives also noted that Ward is a registered sex offender from an incident in 2015 where he had sex with a 15-year-old, according to the affidavit.
The maximum penalty for lewd conduct with a child is life in prison and a $50,000 fine. The law office of Magyar, Rauch and Associates was appointed as public defender. Ward’s next court date is Aug. 19.
