Former teacher gets 15 years for sex crime

COEUR d'ALENE — Daniel Taylor, a former public high school teacher in Coeur d'Alene convicted of a sex crime involving a child, was sentenced Monday to 15 years in prison.

Taylor, 33, was found guilty on Nov. 30, 2015 by a Kootenai County jury of one felony count of lewd conduct with a child under 16. It was the second trial in the case, after the first which took place in February 2015 ended in a mistrial when that jury could not reach a unanimous decision after more than a day of deliberation.

"I have a lot to give," Taylor said in Kootenai County District Court before being sentenced. "I don't think taking me out of society is beneficial in the long run."

Taylor's conviction stems from an incident in which he and his victim, 5, were taking a shower together in the fall of 2012.

A letter, written by the victim, was read by the prosecution at the beginning of the hearing. In the letter, the victim states that she "got abused by Daniel Taylor" and then writes that the abuse has caused nightmares and "lots and lots of stress."

In his sentencing recommendation, Kootenai County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Art Verharen told Judge Fred Gibler that after two trials, there was no need to get into the details of the incident itself. Rather, he asked Gibler to consider four factors, including the age of the victim, when considering Verheran's recommendation of 25 years in prison without parole.

"At that age, she is essentially mentally helpless, physically helpless, and in no position to know what she was required to do was wrong," Verharen said.

The prosecutor added Taylor was not only in a position of trust as a teacher when the crime was committed, but was on supervised misdemeanor probation — the result of a domestic violence incident in Colorado — at the time as well. Finally, Verharen stated rehabilitation through parole would not work since Taylor will not acknowledge his guilt.

"He needs to go to prison, judge," Verharen added.

Defense attorney Rick Baughman began his statement to Gibler by calling into question the objectivity of the pre-sentencing investigation. He said the report contained "a whole bunch of opinion," and went through multiple instances in the document where he claims bias was shown by the individual who compiled the report.

"Frankly, it's nothing but trash," Baughman said. "I've seen a bazillion PSIs, and I've never once seen a pre-sentence investigator list every offense in a separate paragraph in an attempt to extend a criminal record."

Taylor had his head raised and was making direct eye-contact with Gibler while Baughman described the former teacher as an upstanding, God-fearing, law-abiding citizen. Baughman added that until this case and with the exception of the domestic violence conviction, Taylor had gone through life as a good citizen.

"He dedicated his life to the community, dedicated his life to teaching, dedicated his life to his family and friends," Baughman added while advocating for Gibler to sentence his client to probation. "Now, my client has lost everything. Everything in his life has been lost."

Taylor will be eligible for parole after 5 years.

Following Gibler's decision, Baughman immediately requested his appeal of the decision in the case be filed, and an appellate-level public defender be assigned to represent Taylor.

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