Grants for sex suspect's bail set at $100,000

COEUR d'ALENE - Joseph Bekken was formally charged Thursday with five felonies related to an alleged sex for scholarship funds scheme at North Idaho College.

Bekken, the former director of financial aid at NIC, was arrested Wednesday for attempted misuse of public funds, attempted procurement of prostitution, burglary, using a computer in a scheme to defraud, and bribery.

Judge Scott Wayman denied a request for a public defender for Bekken, saying he didn't meet the criteria, and set Bekken's bail at $100,000 at the request of Deputy Prosecutor Jed Whitaker.

Whitaker told the judge that Bekken, who is married with four children, has been allegedly engaged in criminal behavior for a number of years.

He said the investigation is ongoing, and Bekken could possibly face additional charges, as well as potential federal charges.

"He came here from an Arizona college, where it is my understanding that he was terminated as well," Whitaker said. "We just don't know enough about him and because of the fact that he had access to public money and because of the continuing conduct, the high bond amount is appropriate."

Whitaker also told the judge that there is a very high likelihood of a conviction in the case.

Wayman asked Bekken if he wanted to say anything about his bond amount.

"I understand what you are saying, but from a bond standpoint, I am not a flight risk. I am not going anywhere," Bekken said. "I have my family and my kids here. I am not going anywhere."

Bekken reminded the judge that he doesn't have a criminal history, and asked Wayman to consider releasing him without bail.

Wayman said the nature of the crimes and the ongoing investigation warranted a higher bond.

Police also released a detailed report on Bekken's investigation.

Bekken has been under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Coeur d'Alene Police and North Idaho College since January.

According to the report the FBI contacted NIC's School Resource Officer Gus Wessel after the Spokane City Police discovered an advertisement that Bekken allegedly placed in the "casual encounters" section on Craigslist.

The ad said "Hello, I have a proposition for NIC students. Email me and we can discuss M4W, M4M, M4MW."

The acronyms mean "male for woman, male for male, male for man and woman" respectively.

Investigators set up a fake student account under the name Sheryl Roberts, and began engaging Bekken via email. They exchanged photos, and eventually made arrangements to meet after Bekken allegedly deposited $587 into the fake account.

The police report details how Bekken was able to secure money from a North Idaho College Foundation scholarship account to make the transaction.

When the time came to meet, investigators sent him a message saying to meet at an apartment complex on Julia Street. Until Bekken arrived at that location on Feb. 2, police only suspected that the alleged culprit worked in the financial aid department at NIC.

The report said NIC received information from a student about a similar post on Craigslist in April of 2014. NIC was able to find an email exchange between a student and someone who was believed to be in the English Department of the college.

That complaint was investigated, but the identity of the poster was never identified and no further evidence was available to pursue, the report said.

Once Bekken arrived at the Julia Street apartment complex, the report said he agreed to be interviewed at the police department, where he reportedly admitted to using Craigslist in Arizona, where he taught at Grand Canyon University, to set up sexual encounters.

According to the report, Bekken said he continued the practice once he moved to Idaho and had between one and 10 casual encounters, mostly with adult men.

Bekken reportedly told police that he got the idea to solicit sex for scholarship money "a few semesters ago," and while he had conversations with some students, he had not successfully secured any money for sex until this incident.

Bekken allegedly insisted that no federal money was used and that no other students were involved.

NIC's Information Technologies department has investigated Bekken's computer and determined that more incidents may have occurred through a Yahoo message service.

Investigators have obtained a search warrant that has been sent to Yahoo requesting Bekken's activities on that message service.

As of Tuesday, Yahoo had yet to comply with the warrant.