Wallace, IDAHO- In a significant development in a Shoshone County sex crimes case, Adam Scott Henry, a 28-year-old resident, has been sentenced to two suspended but consecutive terms of 10 years in prison, as determined earlier this week in Shoshone County District Court.
Henry's arrest in March 2022 led to initial charges including 10 counts of lewd conduct with a child under 16, one count of sexual abuse of a child, and one count of rape.
While a jury trial was initially scheduled for October of the previous year, it was subsequently vacated in favor of mediation. During these proceedings, Henry's mental capacity came under scrutiny due to a developmental disability, placing his cognitive abilities at the level of an 11-year-old.
Throughout the mediation process, representatives from the Shoshone County Prosecutor’s Office met with the defendant, as well as the victim's family. Various factors were taken into account, including the potential trauma associated with subjecting a child to a trial, as well as the defendant's mental condition.
Ultimately, the family opted for a Rule 11(f) sentencing for Henry, with specific conditions.
This agreement distinguishes itself by binding the Court to the plea arrangement. Unlike typical sentences involving plea agreements, where a judge may deviate from the state's recommended sentencing, Rule 11(f) mandates that all parties concur on the predetermined sentence before the change of plea.
Under this agreement, Henry pleaded guilty to two counts of felony injury to a child, leading to the dismissal of the remaining charges. In return for his guilty plea, Henry agreed to 10 years of supervised felony probation, mandatory sex offender registration, and compliance with a no-contact order.
A noteworthy aspect of Rule 11(f) is that Judge Barbara Duggan retains the authority to determine the underlying sentence should Henry violate the terms of his probation.
While the maximum penalty for felony injury to a child stands at 10 years in prison, Judge Duggan opted to impose the maximum sentence for both counts, ensuring they would run consecutively rather than concurrently. This signifies that if Henry were to breach the terms, he would face a 20-year prison term.
The charges stemmed from incidents occurring in May of 2021, when the victim, a juvenile, exhibited unusual behavior towards their siblings. The victim subsequently disclosed multiple encounters while in the company of Henry, who is a relative. Law enforcement investigated the matter, revealing allegations of prior encounters nearly a year earlier when the victim sought refuge with Henry during a tumultuous period for the victim's family. Initially denying the allegations, Henry later confessed to engaging in various inappropriate acts with the victim.