Former TV reporter gets 30 days for molesting child

MOSCOW, Idaho – Former Spokane television news reporter Eric R. Cannavaro was sentenced Monday to 30 days in prison and five years of probation after he pleaded guilty in September to sexual abuse of a child, a prosecutor said.

Cannavaro, 37, last worked as a news reporter at KIRO-TV in Seattle, but was removed from his job in January 2004 when he was charged in connection with a felony in Latah County, Idaho.

Before working at KIRO, Cannavaro spent seven years at KXLY-TV in Spokane, a job he left in 2002. Prior to that, Cannavaro – who was also widely known in the region as a jazz musician – worked at KLEW-TV in Lewiston.

Last winter, Cannavaro was charged with lewd conduct with a minor for fondling the son of a friend over a period of several years.

The crimes took place in the boy’s home in Genessee, Idaho, where Cannavaro would spend the night in the child’s room, according to a Latah County detective’s report.

In September, Cannavaro pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of sexual abuse of a child. On Monday, District Judge John Stegner sentenced Cannavaro, Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson said.

“This is a sentence we recommended after talking with the victim’s family,” Thompson said.

In addition to the jail time and probation, Cannavaro will be required to register as a sex offender for life unless he petitions a judge to remove the requirement at a later time, Thompson said.

Cannavaro was also required to submit to sex offender treatment and pay for any counseling sought by his victim.

Stegner ordered Cannavaro to pay a $5,000 civil penalty on behalf of the victim and ordered Cannavaro not to have contact with anyone under the age of 18, Thompson said.