Lewd conduct trial approaches

COEUR d’ALENE — Almost two years after the alleged abuse, a man charged with sexually abusing a child is expected to stand trial next week.

Warren C. Williams, 65, of Post Falls, is charged with lewd conduct with a child under the age of 16 and with witness intimidation, both felonies.

The charges stem from August 2020, when a 7-year-old child reported that Williams had sexually abused him.

The child testified that he was going door to door in his Hayden neighborhood, asking for odd jobs to earn money, when Williams invited him inside and touched him inappropriately.

Williams allegedly told the child not to reveal the alleged abuse to anyone, but the child soon told his family.

Though police investigated the incident, prosecutors did not file charges until August 2021, according to court documents.

After Williams failed to show for a pretrial conference last week, a judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest and ordered that he be held on $100,000 bail.

Williams was reportedly arrested Wednesday and posted bond Thursday.

A jury trial in the case is scheduled to begin Tuesday.