In brief: Man charged with more sex offenses
A Twin Lakes man charged with sex abuse has been charged with two additional felony sex offenses, and additional charges are pending.
Kootenai County prosecutors have charged Edmund D. Bergeman, 46, with sexual abuse of a child under 16 and felony rape, allegedly committed in 2002. Sheriff’s Capt. Ben Wolfinger said investigators this week identified two additional victims of alleged lewd conduct and forwarded the complaints to prosecutors.
Wolfinger said there are now six known victims in the case.
Bergeman was initially charged in November with two felony counts of child sex abuse after the mother of an 8-year-old went to pick her daughter up from his house and allegedly found the girl dressed in a provocative outfit and a 9-year-old girl naked in Bergeman’s bed.
A search of Bergeman’s car revealed thousands of pictures of children, including photos taken at Coeur d’Alene parks, schools and businesses, according to authorities.
Wolfinger said the evidence in the case is being examined at the state’s forensics laboratory and investigators are working to identify every child who is pictured. “It’s a painstaking process,” he said.
– Taryn Brodwater
Boise
Company recalls hot dogs, sausages
A Colorado company is recalling more than 15,500 pounds of hot dogs and sausages distributed in Idaho and other states because they might be contaminated with illness-causing bacteria.
Gold Star Sausage Co. of Denver is recalling several products that may have been contaminated with Lysteria monocytogenes:
“One-pound packages of Maverick Ranch Beef Franks, containing six skinless franks. Packages bear a sell-by date of Feb. 14, Feb. 21 or Feb. 28.
“One-pound packages of Maverick Ranch Buffalo Franks, six skinless franks. Packages bear a sell-by-date of Dec. 27, 2006, Jan. 3, Jan. 10, Feb. 14, Feb. 21 or Feb. 28.
“Five-pound packages of Beef Franks with product code MF55-0606-15. The products were packaged on Dec. 9, 2006.
The bacteria can cause Listeriosis, an illness with symptoms of high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. – JoNel Aleccia
Coeur d’Alene
Forum scheduled on proposed levy
A public forum on the Coeur d’Alene School District’s upcoming tax levy proposal will be Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Human Rights Education Institute in City Park.
The district plans to ask voters this spring to approve a two-year levy to fund school activities and programs not covered by state funds. District officials haven’t decided how much this year’s levy will be and are looking for advice. The school board has asked that the levy not exceed the $14.6 million, two-year levy voters approved in May 2005. That levy cost property owners $126 a year for every $100,000 of property value.
– Meghann M. Cuniff