was an LDS bishopric counselor and Idaho city councilman; signed a plea agreement indicating he would admit to committing lewd conduct with a minor; sentenced to prison in 2023
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Personal information

  • Wiscombe, Byron Dean
  • Born: 1977
  • Gender: Male
Sources
  1. top story Former city councilman signs plea agreement in child rape case (archive)
  2. Byron Wiscombe Linkedin (archive)
  3. Citzens Community Bank Announced they hired the accused (archive)
  4. wedding announcement (Idaho Falls, Idaho LDS temple) - Vernal Express - 1999-12-15 (archive)

Case videos

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    • Video title: Former city councilman makes first court appearance on sexual assault allegations
    • Video description: East Idaho News - YouTube
    • Video title: Ammon man arrested for lewd conduct with minor
    • Video description: KIFI Local News 8 - YouTube

Case summary

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2023-03-15: Wiscombe has been sentenced to prison.

CR10-22-00527 | State of Idaho Plaintiff, vs. Byron Dean Wiscombe Defendant.

charges filed on 2022-01-19 in Bonneville County District Court against Byron Wiscombe:

# — Description Statute Level Date
1 Children-Lewd Conduct with Child Under 16 I18-1508 Felony 10/06/2014
2 Children-Sexual Battery-Committed by Lewd or Lascivious Acts on a Minor Child 16 to 17 Years of Age I18-1508A(1)(a) Felony 10/06/2016
3 Video Voyeurism I18-6609 Felony 07/04/2019
4 Battery-Sexual I18-924 Misdemeanor 03/01/2021

Of those four charges, Wiscombe agreed in December 2022 to plea guilty to one: the first count, Children-Lewd Conduct with Child Under 16. The other three charges were to be dismissed.

According to the Idaho State Journal (source 1), Wiscombe “reportedly raped a teen girl over a seven-year period that lasted into her adulthood. She said Wiscombe also recorded her, saying she once found his phone hidden in an air vent in her bedroom with the video recorder on. A second victim also said Wiscombe touched her inappropriately. Her description of Wiscombe’s behavior was similar to the description given by the other victim.”

In December 2021, Wiscombe’s wife filed for divorce.

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Sources
  1. Former city councilman signs plea agreement in child rape case - (archive) - Idaho State Journal - 1 Dec 2022
  2. Court documents detail sexual assault allegations against former city councilman (archive) - East Idaho News - 27 Jan 2022
  3. Former Ammon City Council Member Byron Wiscome Arrested on Various Charges (archive) - KPVI - 26 Jan 2022
  4. case number CR10-22-00527 (archive) - Idaho court records search - 15 Mar 2023
  5. case number CR10-22-00669 (archive) - Idaho court records search - 15 Mar 2023
  6. case number CV10-21-7257 (archive) - Idaho court records search - 15 Mar 2023

Timeline of case events

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  • Date: 26 Jan 2022
  • Description:

    KPVI article:

    "An Ammon City Council Member who resigned a month after being re-elected in November has been arrested on various charges. 

    44-year-old Byron Wiscombe was arrested Wednesday morning and is now facing lewd conduct with a minor child, sexual battery of a minor child, and video voyeurism which are all felonies. He is also facing a misdemeanor sexual battery charge. 

    Idaho State Police say that the victim is known to the suspect and that the investigation is ongoing. 

    Wiscombe has served on the Ammon City Council for eight years and was re-elected in November. He suddenly resigned from the city council in early December."

  • Country: United States
  • State: Idaho
  • City: Ammon
  • Sources
    1. Former Ammon City Council Member Byron Wiscome Arrested on Various Charges - KPVI - 2022-01-26 (archive)
  • Date: 9 Dec 2022
  • Description:

    Idaho State Journal article:

    "A probable cause affidavit filed Thursday in the case against former Ammon City Councilman Byron Wiscombe reveals that he is accused of sexually abusing a girl over a seven-year period.

    The sexual abuse reportedly began while the victim was a teenager and the affidavit alleges more than 100 incidents of assault. The victim described multiple incidents of Wiscombe sexually touching her.

    These sexual assaults reportedly continued after the victim became a legal adult. The most recent incident, according to the victim, was in March or April.

    The affidavit also states Wiscombe recorded the victim with his phone. In 2019, the victim reportedly heard a phone notification from a vent above a bathtub at her residence. She told an Idaho State Police trooper she removed the vent and found Wiscombe’s phone, which was recording. At later times she found phones hidden in her laundry and bedroom.

    A relative of Wiscombe told police that on Nov. 28 Wiscombe told them he had been “inappropriate” with the victim.

    Wiscombe also was charged for sexually assaulting another victim, who told law enforcement he inappropriately touched her twice in April as well as once over the summer and once in September. The second victim’s description of Wiscombe’s behavior was similar to that given by the first victim.

    Wiscombe resigned from his Ammon City Council seat in December, despite having just won reelection the month before.

    Wiscombe is charged with lewd conduct with a minor and sexual battery of a child between 16 and 17 years of age, both punishable with up to life in prison, and video voyeurism, punishable with up to five years in prison. He was charged with misdemeanor sexual battery against both victims, with one of the charges forming a separate case.

    Wiscombe was released from jail to pretrial services Thursday on the condition that he would be required to wear an ankle monitor. A no-contact order was issued between him and the victim.

    A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Feb. 9 in Bonneville County Court."

  • Country: United States
  • State: Idaho
  • City: Ammon
  • Sources
    1. Former city councilman signs plea agreement in child rape case - 2022-12-01, Idaho State Journal (archive)
  • Date: 8 Jan 2023
  • Description:

    FLOODLIT searched Idaho court records for case number #CR10-22-00527:

    The following information appeared on the case information page for that case number, in the "Events and Hearings" section:

    "
    Events and Hearings

    01/19/2022 New Case - Criminal

    01/20/2022 Criminal Complaint

    01/20/2022 Affidavit of Probable Cause

    01/20/2022 Warrant/Det Order Issued - Arrest

    01/27/2022 Initial Appearance - Felony Magistrate Court

    Original Type
    Initial Appearance - Felony Magistrate Court

    Judicial Officer(s)
    Mallard, Michelle Radford, Rammell, Mark S.

    Hearing Time
    1:00 PM

    Result
    Hearing Held

    01/27/2022 Warrant Returned - Served

    01/27/2022 Order

    Judicial Officer
    Gardner, Steven Alan

    Comment
    Approving Request to obtain Video/Audio Record, Broadcast or Photograph a Court Proceeding

    01/27/2022 Notice of Appearance

    01/27/2022 Request for Discovery

    01/27/2022 Court Minutes

    Judicial Officer
    Rammell, Mark S.

    01/27/2022 Notification of Rights

    Judicial Officer
    Rammell, Mark S.

    Comment
    Verbally

    01/27/2022 Order

    Judicial Officer
    Rammell, Mark S.

    Comment
    for Ankle Monitor

    01/27/2022 Order for Release

    Judicial Officer
    Rammell, Mark S.

    01/27/2022 No Contact Order

    Judicial Officer
    Rammell, Mark S.

    01/27/2022 Pretrial Risk Assessment Filed

    01/27/2022 Bond Posted - Surety

    01/27/2022 Bond Receipt and Court Date

    01/27/2022 Plea of Not Guilty

    01/28/2022 Pretrial Services Program Review

    01/28/2022 Pretrial Services Program Interview

    02/01/2022 Notice of Remote Hearing

    02/03/2022 Notice of Substitution of Counsel

    02/03/2022 Subpoena Issued

    Comment
    DF

    02/03/2022 Subpoena Issued

    Comment
    R.W.

    02/08/2022 Response to Request for Discovery

    Comment
    State's

    02/08/2022 Request for Discovery

    Comment
    and Demand for Notice of Intent to Rely Upon Defense of Alibi

    02/08/2022 Stipulation

    Comment
    Stipulation to Continue Preliminary Hearing and Time Waiver

    02/09/2022 Status Conference

    Judicial Officer
    Dennert, Wiley R.

    Hearing Time
    8:30 AM

    Cancel Reason
    Vacated

    02/09/2022 Preliminary Hearing

    Judicial Officer
    Dennert, Wiley R.

    Hearing Time
    1:30 PM

    Cancel Reason
    Vacated

    02/09/2022 Order

    Judicial Officer
    Dennert, Wiley R.

    Comment
    to Continue Preliminary Hearing

    02/09/2022 Notice of Remote Hearing

    02/09/2022 Notice of Hearing

    02/10/2022 Subpoena Issued

    Comment
    D.F

    02/10/2022 Subpoena Issued

    Comment
    R.W

    02/25/2022 Subpoena Returned

    02/28/2022 Waiver of Preliminary Hearing

    03/01/2022 Status Conference

    Judicial Officer
    Dennert, Wiley R.

    Hearing Time
    8:30 AM

    Cancel Reason
    Vacated

    03/01/2022 Preliminary Hearing

    Judicial Officer
    Dennert, Wiley R.

    Hearing Time
    1:30 PM

    Cancel Reason
    Vacated

    03/01/2022 Stipulation to Amend

    Comment
    Order For Release After Posting Bond

    03/02/2022 Notice of Remote Hearing

    03/03/2022 Order

    Judicial Officer
    Dennert, Wiley R.

    Comment
    to Amend Order For Release After Posting Bond

    03/03/2022 Order Waiving Preliminary Hearing (Written Waiver)

    Judicial Officer
    Dennert, Wiley R.

    03/03/2022 Preliminary Hearing Waived (Bound Over)

    03/04/2022 Order

    Judicial Officer
    Whyte, Michael J.

    Comment
    of Self Disqualification

    03/08/2022 Felony Information Filed

    Comment
    Prosecuting Attorney's

    03/09/2022 Order of Voluntary Disqualification

    Judicial Officer
    Pickett, Bruce L.

    03/10/2022 Order

    Judicial Officer
    Watkins, Dane H., Jr

    Comment
    of Assignment by ADJ Watkins

    03/10/2022 Notice of Remote Hearing

    03/14/2022 Arraignment - District Court

    Judicial Officer
    Whyte, Michael J.

    Hearing Time
    9:00 AM

    Cancel Reason
    Vacated

    03/14/2022 Arraignment - District Court

    Original Type
    Arraignment - District Court

    Judicial Officer
    Watkins, Dane H., Jr

    Hearing Time
    02:00 PM

    Result
    Hearing Held
    Parties Present

    Defendant: Wiscombe, Byron Dean

    Attorney of Record: Smith, Curtis Reed

    Attorney of Record: Lords, Zachary David

    State: State of Idaho

    03/14/2022 Notice of Hearing

    Judicial Officer
    Watkins, Dane H., Jr

    03/14/2022 Notice of Hearing

    Judicial Officer
    Watkins, Dane H., Jr

    03/17/2022 Court Minutes

    03/24/2022 Notice of Trial Setting, Final Pre-Trial Conference & Order

    Judicial Officer
    Watkins, Dane H., Jr

    05/06/2022 State's Supplemental Response to Request for Discovery

    Comment
    First

    05/09/2022 Pre-trial Conference

    Original Type
    Pre-trial Conference

    Judicial Officer(s)
    Watkins, Dane H., Jr, Dunn, Stephen S.

    Hearing Time
    08:30 AM

    Result
    Hearing Held
    Parties Present

    Defendant: Wiscombe, Byron Dean

    Attorney of Record: Lords, Zachary David

    State: State of Idaho

    05/09/2022 Notice of Hearing

    Judicial Officer
    Dunn, Stephen S.

    Comment
    Status 6/13

    05/09/2022 Notice of Hearing

    Judicial Officer
    Dunn, Stephen S.

    Comment
    JT 7/11

    05/09/2022 Court Minutes

    06/13/2022 Status Conference

    Original Type
    Status Conference

    Judicial Officer
    Watkins, Dane H., Jr

    Hearing Time
    08:30 AM

    Result
    Hearing Held
    Parties Present

    Defendant: Wiscombe, Byron Dean

    Attorney of Record: Lords, Zachary David

    State: State of Idaho

    06/13/2022 Jury Trial

    Judicial Officer
    Watkins, Dane H., Jr

    Hearing Time
    1:30 PM

    Cancel Reason
    Vacated

    06/13/2022 Notice of Hearing

    Judicial Officer
    Watkins, Dane H., Jr

    Comment
    7/11

    06/13/2022 Court Minutes

    07/11/2022 Status Conference

    Original Type
    Status Conference

    Judicial Officer
    Watkins, Dane H., Jr

    Hearing Time
    08:30 AM

    Result
    Hearing Held

    07/11/2022 Jury Trial

    Judicial Officer
    Watkins, Dane H., Jr

    Hearing Time
    1:30 PM

    Cancel Reason
    Vacated

    07/11/2022 Notice of Hearing

    07/11/2022 Court Minutes

    08/05/2022 Stipulation to Continue

    Comment
    Status Conference

    08/08/2022 Status Conference

    Original Type
    Status Conference

    Judicial Officer
    Watkins, Dane H., Jr

    Hearing Time
    08:30 AM

    Result
    Hearing Held
    Parties Present

    Defendant: Wiscombe, Byron Dean

    Attorney of Record: Smith, Curtis Reed

    State: State of Idaho

    08/08/2022 Notice of Hearing

    Judicial Officer
    Watkins, Dane H., Jr

    Comment
    Status 9/12

    08/08/2022 Court Minutes

    09/12/2022 Status Conference

    Original Type
    Status Conference

    Judicial Officer
    Watkins, Dane H., Jr

    Hearing Time
    08:30 AM

    Result
    Hearing Held
    Parties Present

    Defendant: Wiscombe, Byron Dean

    Attorney of Record: Smith, Curtis Reed

    Attorney of Record: Lords, Zachary David

    State: State of Idaho

    Attorney of Record: Dewey, John Cecil

    09/12/2022 Notice of Hearing

    Judicial Officer
    Watkins, Dane H., Jr

    09/13/2022 Court Minutes

    10/04/2022 Change of Plea

    Original Type
    Change of Plea

    Judicial Officer
    Watkins, Dane H., Jr

    Hearing Time
    09:00 AM

    Result
    Hearing Continued
    Parties Present

    Defendant: Wiscombe, Byron Dean

    Attorney of Record: Smith, Curtis Reed

    Attorney of Record: Lords, Zachary David

    State: State of Idaho

    Attorney of Record: Dewey, John Cecil

    10/04/2022 Court Minutes

    10/12/2022 Notice of Hearing

    Comment
    COP 10/18/2022

    10/18/2022 Change of Plea

    Original Type
    Change of Plea

    Judicial Officer(s)
    Watkins, Dane H., Jr, Stephens, Alan C.

    Hearing Time
    09:00 AM

    Result
    Hearing Held
    Parties Present

    Defendant: Wiscombe, Byron Dean

    Attorney of Record: Smith, Curtis Reed

    Attorney of Record: Lords, Zachary David

    State: State of Idaho

    Attorney of Record: Dewey, John Cecil

    10/18/2022 Notice of Hearing

    Judicial Officer
    Stephens, Alan C.

    10/20/2022 Court Minutes

    11/21/2022 Change of Plea

    Original Type
    Change of Plea

    Judicial Officer
    Watkins, Dane H., Jr

    Hearing Time
    09:00 AM

    Result
    Hearing Held
    Parties Present

    Defendant: Wiscombe, Byron Dean

    Attorney of Record: Smith, Curtis Reed

    Attorney of Record: Lords, Zachary David

    State: State of Idaho

    Attorney of Record: Dewey, John Cecil

    11/21/2022 Plea Agreement

    11/21/2022 Notice of Hearing

    Judicial Officer
    Watkins, Dane H., Jr

    11/28/2022 Court Minutes

    12/06/2022 Change of Plea

    Original Type
    Change of Plea

    Judicial Officer
    Watkins, Dane H., Jr

    Hearing Time
    09:00 AM

    Result
    Hearing Held
    Parties Present

    Defendant: Wiscombe, Byron Dean

    Attorney of Record: Smith, Curtis Reed

    Attorney of Record: Lords, Zachary David

    State: State of Idaho

    Attorney of Record: Dewey, John Cecil

    12/06/2022 Notice of Hearing

    Judicial Officer
    Watkins, Dane H., Jr

    12/07/2022 Order for Pre-Sentence Report (PSI)

    Judicial Officer
    Watkins, Dane H., Jr

    12/08/2022 Court Minutes

    12/08/2022 Acknowledgment of Rights

    02/13/2023 Sentencing

    Judicial Officer
    Watkins, Dane H., Jr

    Hearing Time
    1:00 PM"

  • Country: unknown
  • State: unknown
  • City:

Location/residence history

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  • Date: 2022
  • Description: Ammon, ID
  • Country: United States
  • State: ID
  • City: Ammon
  • Lat/long:

LDS/Mormon church membership history

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LDS mission information

The accused served a full-time LDS mission in the Spain Bilbao mission from 1997 to 1999.

Sources
  1. Wiscombe called to Spain - Vernal Express - 1996-11-13 (archive)
  2. Wiscombe returns from LDS mission - Vernal Express - 1999-01-06 (archive)

LDS temple marriage information

FLOODLIT is not aware whether the accused was married in a Mormon temple.

LDS church positions ever held by the accused: Counselor in bishopric
LDS church positions held by the accused at the time of the alleged crime(s): Counselor in bishopric
LDS church positions held by the accused at the time of being publicly accused:

Alleged crime(s)

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Alleged crime information

  • Description of alleged crime(s): lewd conduct with a minor child
  • Start date:
  • End date:
  • City:
  • State: unknown
  • Country: unknown

Alleged victim(s)

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  • Number of alleged victim(s) - note if approximate: 2
  • Average age of alleged victim(s) at time of alleged crime(s):

Arrest(s)

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Criminal charge(s)

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Criminal verdict(s)

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Criminal sentence

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Prison time

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Other court cases

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LDS church response(s)

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  • Alleged failure to report by local LDS leaders? no
  • Alleged misconduct by local LDS leaders? no
  • Alleged misconduct by global LDS leaders? no

FLOODLIT is not aware whether the Mormon church paid any settlement amounts related to this case.

View all Mormon sexual abuse settlements

 

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