Mistrial in sex crimes case

COEUR d'ALENE - A jury was unable to reach a verdict in the trial of Daniel Taylor, a former public high school teacher accused of sex crimes involving a child.

On Wednesday afternoon, Kootenai County District Judge Fred Gibler declared a mistrial when the jury, composed of seven women and five men, could not reach a unanimous decision after more than a day of deliberation. Taylor, 32, faced life in prison if he was found guilty of one count of lewd conduct with a child younger than 16.

Kootenai County Prosecutor Barry McHugh told The Press Wednesday that his office intends to pursue a retrial.

The charge against Taylor stems from an incident in which he and his alleged victim were taking a shower together in the fall of 2012. Taylor is accused of raping the 5-year-old child on that occasion. The child told detectives of two other instances of alleged sexual abuse, beginning in January 2011.

Taylor resigned from his position with the Coeur d'Alene School District in March of 2014. The alleged incident did not involve a student or take place on school grounds.