Molester Gets Term In Prison Man Was Expelled Earlier From Nic, Bible Study Group

A 20-year-old man who was asked to leave North Idaho College and a Bible study group for harassing women was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison for sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl.

Joshua M. Lepinski may avoid prison, however, after spending 180 days in an evaluation program - possibly a boot camp for sexual offenders, 1st District Judge Gary Haman ordered.

Lepinski was arrested in January after he was found with several children who had been reported missing. He was accused of helping three boys, ages 12 and 13, hide from their parents, according to a Kootenai County sheriff’s report.

The mother of one of the 12-year-olds had to take her son to the hospital after he appeared to be suffering side effects from drugs, the report said.

Lepinski also was charged with raping the 13-year-old girl. However, the charges of enticement were dropped and the rape charge was changed to sexual abuse of a minor in exchange for his guilty plea.

On Monday, the girl sat in the back of the courtroom and sobbed as Lepinski told Haman that he doesn’t remember having had sex with her.

But “I realize what I did was wrong,” he said. “I’ve tried to make friends and maybe I’ve come on too strong.”

In 1994, Lepinski was asked to leave NIC’s adult basic education courses, said Traci Post, Kootenai County deputy prosecutor.

At least five women complained he was following them outside for breaks and making passes at them, according to court records. He allegedly asked one married woman if she fooled around.

Catherine Fisher, a youth pastor, testified Monday that Lepinski was asked to leave the church group she worked with for harassing the girls.

She said he was caught cornering one 12-year-old girl in a room.

Fisher also testified that she called mall security last summer after watching Lepinski follow a girl through the Silver Lake Mall until she was alone. He then tried to give her a necklace and find out where she lived.

“She was scared,” Fisher said. “He watched this group of girls until one was by herself. He watched and he waited for someone vulnerable,” she testified.

Lepinski’s attorney, Suzanna Graham, said Lepinski is extremely immature. “He didn’t do these acts because he’s a sexual predator but because he wants to be accepted,” she said.

Judge Haman sentenced Lepinski to three to 10 years in prison but “retained jurisdiction.” That means the judge will reconsider the sentence after Lepinski has spent 180 days being evaluated behind bars.

, DataTimes