During a hearing today in Boundary County District Court, retired visiting Judge Don Swanstrom, sentenced a local woman, Kellie Levan, 33, for lying to police. Deputy Prosecutor Sara Seaborg asked the court to hand down the jail time after Levan pled guilty to violating Idaho Code Section 18-5413 (1).
Levan pled guilty to the Criminal Complaint which alleged that on Aug. 18, 2004, she knowingly gave false information to Bonners Ferry City Police Officer Joel Minor. The false information she gave was in falsely accusing another of domestic violence.
Prosecutor Jack Douglas said Levan admitted to lying to police during a preliminary hearing in anther case, which created the basis for the felony criminal charges to be filed in this case, and a contested preliminary hearing.
"We take spousal abuse and domestic violence seriously,” Douglas said. “When it is alleged to have occurred, the policy is to investigate it fully and attempt to make and sustain the appropriate charge. We do that to protect the community from people who would abuse others. For that to happen, we must have cooperation and truth from the alleged victims."
Douglas added that when someone admits to false claims of being a victim of spousal abuse or domestic violence, they undermine the effort to protect them and others in the future.
“That also causes a waste of valuable police resources, and wasted effort by this office and the court system,” he said. “My policy is to be tough on people who abuse the protection of the system by lying to the police or the courts. Officer Minor deserved the truth in or to do his job properly."
Swanstrom sentenced Levan to 180 days in jail, with 177 suspended, a $300 court fine with $100 suspended, two years probation and court costs in the amount of $63.50. Seaborg had recommended five days in jail. Levan will also be on probation for 2 years.