A 67-year-old Lewiston man was charged with three counts of sexual battery of a minor for allegedly kissing and touching a 17-year-old.
Joseph A. Lee faces the charges, and the penalty for each offense is 25 years in prison as well as a $50,000 fine.
The Lewiston Police Department began investigating the incident Nov. 12 after a report that a 36-year-old man kissed a 17-year-old girl. During the investigation it was discovered that Lee is 67 and was arrested for allegedly kissing the victim multiple times and fondling her, according to the probable cause affidavit.
A witness reported that Lee, whom the witness knew as Shadow Hawk, brought him to his home for dinner and allegedly found him kissing the teenager and was kicked out of the home. Later interviews with the witness and the alleged victim found that whenever the two were alone that day, Lee would allegedly touch, fondle or kiss her. The alleged victim told the police that she allegedly told Lee to stop and also showed investigators gifts that Lee had bought her in the three to four months they knew each other, including a tiara, a necklace and an image drawn by Lee with a heart, according to the affidavit.
Officers made contact with Lee, who told police that he never touched the alleged victim and that she had kissed him, according to the affidavit. He was then arrested on the charges.
He appeared Monday before Magistrate Judge Karin Seubert at the Nez Perce County Courthouse and given a $50,000 bond. Rick Cuddihy was appointed as public defender and his next court date is Monday.
