Man who failed to show in court found dead

A St. Maries man accused of soliciting teenagers for sex over the internet, who failed to appear in court Friday in Benewah County, was found dead in his home, according to the St. Maries Gazette.

Kenneth R. Campbell, who was arrested by authorities in September after being tipped off by Hunted and Confronted, a Coeur d’Alene-based Facebook group that seeks to expose pedophiles, was initially charged by police with 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

He was taken into custody in Benewah County and formally charged with two felonies, including soliciting children for sex, and enticing children over the internet.

Campbell posted a $50,000 bond last year and waived a preliminary hearing earlier this month. He was supposed to be arraigned Friday, but failed to appear in court.

After he failed to appear, First District Judge Fred Gibler ordered a bench warrant.

The St. Maries paper reported that authorities confirmed Campbell was found dead Friday, but no additional details were available.

Authorities initially charged Campbell with sexual abuse of a child under the age of 16; sexual exploitation of a child under the age of 16; sexual battery of a child aged 16-17; enticing a child through the internet; two counts of inducing a child under the age of 18 for prostitution; and two counts of utilizing a child under the age of 18 for prostitution.

According to Hunted and Confronted, members set up Campbell by pretending to be a teenager who agreed to meet Campbell in Coeur d’Alene for sex, according to reports.

Members of the group, which touts its mission to “expose child predators live on social media sites,” allegedly obtained incriminating text messages from Campbell. The evidence was turned over to authorities, which ultimately resulted in Campbell’s arrest.