Bail reduced in scholarship sex case

COEUR d'ALENE - A judge reduced Joseph Bekken's bail to $25,000 on Tuesday amid news that new charges could be filed against the former North Idaho College financial aid director.

Kootenai County Prosecutor Barry McHugh confirmed Tuesday that additional charges may be filed since another female is claiming Bekken paid her a "significant amount of money" for photographs of her. McHugh said investigators believe that money may have come from federal financial aid funds.

"There is an ongoing investigation, but I do not know if he has been charged federally yet," McHugh said. "If the evidence is there, charges will be considered either by feds or our office."

Those charges could include lying to a federal agent and misuse of federal funds.

First District Court Judge James Stow reduced Bekken's bail to $25,000. Bail was previously set at $100,000.

Bekken and his attorney, Anne Taylor, of Anderson Palmer George & Walsh PLLC, agreed to delay his preliminary hearing, which was scheduled for Thursday.

Bekken was formally charged last week with five felonies related to an alleged sex-for-scholarship scheme at North Idaho College.

Bekken is being held for attempted misuse of public funds, attempted procurement of prostitution, burglary, using a computer in a scheme to defraud, and bribery.

The date of his preliminary hearing is expected to be set by the end of March.