Editor’s note: This story includes disturbing details about a case of alleged child sexual exploitation.
LEWISTON, Idaho — A 42-year-old man from Lewiston, charged with 19 counts related to child sex abuse in Nez Perce County County Magistrate Court, has been convicted by a grand jury.
On Jan. 17, Eric Villa, 42, had been indicted on one count of distribution of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography and one count of sexual exploration forfeiture.
According to court documents, authorities in Lewiston first learned about Villa when agents in Tennessee told them a suspect in their investigation had an address in Idaho.
Investigators in Tennessee had been tracking Villa’s internet and social media use which had been linked to distributing child sexually exploitative material. In one instance, Tennessee agents found private chats between Villa and another user that contained 47 videos of child sex abusive material.
On Jan. 4, Villa was taken to the Lewiston FBI office for questioning. During an interview, Villa admitted to having access to the social media accounts and said he did not think that possessing and distributing the material was illegal.
When he was asked if he would ever stop being sexually attracted to 14 to 15-year-old boys, he said he thought he might once he was married.
In court documents, after being asked if he thought it was ok for a father to have sex with his infant, he replied that it was probably a little young, but a 10-year-old would be old enough to “give consent and enjoy it.”
A federal grand jury indicted him on five additional charges to the 19 that he has received from Nez Perce County.
Distribution and possession of child pornography is punishable not less than five years but up to 20 years in prison with not less than five years but up to life of supervision after release.
A jury trial is set to begin on March 4 in Coeur d’Alene.
