Booking photo for Dustin J. Andrew (Courtesy: Bannock County Jail).
LOGAN — A possible plea deal is being negotiated for a 48-year-old former Lewiston man suspected of sexually abusing a young girl more than 35 years ago. Dustin J. Andrew was arrested in May at his home in Pocatello and later transferred to Utah.
Andrew appeared in 1st District Court Monday afternoon. He has been charged with one count of sodomy on a child, a first-degree felony; and two counts of aggravated sex abuse of a child, a second-degree felony.
Andrew’s defense attorney explained that they had completed a psycho-sexual evaluation. The results had been provided to prosecutors. He asked the court to allow them time to review the evaluation and work out a possible plea agreement.
Judge Angela Fonnesbeck granted the continuance. She ordered Andrew to appear again in court March 2.
According to a released affidavit, deputies began to investigate Andrew after an adult woman reported that the defendant forced her to perform oral sex on him from a point early in her childhood to the age of 13, when another girl was allegedly encouraged to participate. The other girl told adults, and while the alleged abuse stopped, it was never reported to deputies until 2018.
Court records show in July, Andrew was bound over for trial on all three counts during a preliminary hearing. He also pleaded “not guilty” to all of the charges.
Andrew is currently out of jail after posting $10,000 bail. He could face up to life in prison if convicted.
will@cvradio.com