Man Charged In Attack On Stensgar

A federal grand jury indictment unsealed Friday charges a 27-year-old Spokane man with attacking the daughter of the Coeur d’Alene tribal chairman.

Caesar A. Torres pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted aggravated sexual abuse, tampering with a witness, assault resulting in serious bodily harm and assault on a minor, the U.S. attorneys office said.

U.S. Magistrate Mikel Williams set a Nov. 16 trial date.

The indictment accuses Torres of severely beating Laura Stensgar and attacking a 7-year-old girl who attempted to intervene. Stensgar, 32, suffered a broken jaw and other injuries to her face, hands and back during the Aug. 18 assault in her Plummer, Idaho, home.

Authorities said the actions that led to the witness tampering charge occurred during the attack. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Peters said he could not disclose details of the witness-tampering allegation.

The charge of assault on a minor is the only allegation that relates to the child, who was not seriously injured.

Torres attempted suicide by cutting his wrists after the attack. He was arrested when he was released from Kootenai Medical Center two days later. If convicted, Torres faces up to life in prison. He is a former boyfriend of the woman.

Stensgar is member of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and marketing director for its casino and lottery. She is the daughter of Ernie Stensgar, tribal chairman.

Two Benewah County sheriff’s deputies and a Coeur d’Alene tribal officer responded to the attack, but the FBI investigated the case because it handles felonies committed on American Indian reservations.