Lapwai Man Pleads Guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child

COEUR D'ALENE - Gaylen K. Broncheau, 62, of Lapwai, Idaho, pleaded guilty today to abusive sexual contact with a child under twelve, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  Broncheau was indicted by a federal grand jury in Coeur d'Alene on November 18, 2014.

According to the plea agreement, between 2008 and 2011, on the Nez Perce Indian Reservation, Broncheau had sexual contact with a child, touching the child’s genitals with his fingers, over the child’s underwear.  The plea agreement states the child was under twelve when this occurred.   

The charge is punishable by up to life in prison, up to lifetime supervised release following any prison sentence, and a maximum fine of $250,000.

Sentencing is set for August 18, 2015, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Coeur d'Alene.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Nez Perce Tribal Police, Idaho State Police, and the Coeur d’Alene Police Department.