Woman Admits Lewd Acts But Says She Was ‘Coaxed’ Into Having Sex With Boys

A 21-year-old woman Friday admitted having sex with 13- and 14-year-old boys, but said she was “coaxed” into it by her boyfriend, who watched.

Kimberly Ward, of Lancaster, Calif., pleaded guilty to three counts of lewd conduct stemming from a series of encounters with several teenagers between March and May 1994. Her boyfriend, an uncle to two of the boys, faces charges of aiding and abetting lewd conduct.

Kenneth W. Wyckoff, 31, pleaded not guilty and will stand trial in June. Ward will be sentenced July 12.

Both could face life in prison.

Ward initially was charged with 10 counts of lewd conduct. Seven were dropped in exchange for Ward’s guilty plea.

She also is expected to testify against Wyckoff.

“I do believe in my own mind that I did this, but I was coaxed into it by my co-defendant,” Ward told Judge James Michaud on Friday.

“He forced me and threatened me and he was holding me down and telling the boys what to do.”

The boys told police Wyckoff had been in charge, but had not used any “life-threatening” force to compel Ward to have sex, said Prosecutor Brian Watkins. However, he said, the boys were sometimes reluctant to participate.

“Mr. Wyckoff clearly was involved in initiating and directing the action of this production,” he said.

Ward said she met Wyckoff in college before she dropped out. She moved here from Lancaster in 1994 to be with him. She lived in a motel room.

Between March and May, Wyckoff’s sister allowed the couple to stay in her Coeur d’Alene home and care for her five children - ages 7 to 16 - while she worked two jobs.

Her 14-year-old son later told police he had sex several times with Ward while his mother was at work.

Wyckoff either participated or watched, the boy said in January.

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