Coeur d'Alene child molester pleads guilty

A Coeur d'Alene man is facing up to seven consecutive life sentences in prison after pleading guilty Wednesday to molesting seven boys between the ages of 8 and 14.

Kevin G. Sloniker, 30, pleaded guilty to each of the felony counts of lewd conduct with a child under the age of 16.

According to court documents, Sloniker answered "guilty" as each count was read by Judge Cynthia Meyer.

"No threats or promises," Sloniker said. "I had sexual contact with the minor in count one, I think in 2015 in Kootenai County. Hands to genitals. My hands," the document states, with Sloniker repeating the "hand to genital" contact for each of the seven counts.

According to the incident report, the long-haul truck driver had met boys during his time as a youth camp counselor at Immaculate Conception Church in Post Falls. The incidents took place between 2005 and 2015. The report says Sloniker took kids across state lines on "numerous occasions." One boy reported that he had gone on a road trip with Sloniker through several different states.

When Sloniker was questioned by Coeur d'Alene detectives on Oct. 9, 2015, he did not deny the allegations against him and told the detective he had a problem and needed help for the problem. He also admitted to taking photos of the boys with his phone. Charges for that were dismissed in exchange for the other guilty pleas.

Sloniker is scheduled to be sentenced July 13.