Local woman gets jail time for sexual relations with teen boy
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ARCO — A Soda Springs woman will spend time in jail after an illegal sexual relationship with a teenage boy in 2016.
Amanda Katherine Steele, 35, was ordered on Tuesday by District Judge Darren Simpson to spend 90-days in jail followed by seven years on felony probation. Simpson suspended a three to 10-year prison sentence that could be served if Steele is not successful on probation.
The sentence came after Steele ultimately pleaded guilty to two felony counts of injury to a child. Originally, prosecutors charged Steele with three felony counts of child sexual battery committed by lewd conduct but amended the charges as part of a plea agreement.
Investigators say that in 2016, Steele engaged in a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old. The teen reportedly would skip school and Latter-day Saint seminary to have sex with Steele. At the time, Steele lived in Arco. In court, Steele said at least one sexual encounter happened at the teen’s home and another time at her house.
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While the victim considered the sexual conduct consensual, prosecutors charged Steele because, under Idaho law, a minor who is 16 and 17 cannot consent to sex with adults five or more years older than them.
In addition to serving the jail time and probation, Simpson also ordered Steele to complete 300 hours of community service and pay $4,671 in fees and fines, according to court records.
Because Steele was not charged with a sex crime, she does not have to register as a sex offender.