10/12/2026
Pocatello man charged with lewd conduct and s*xual battery of a minor
Published at 1:25 pm, October 9, 2026
Updated at 1:30 pm, October 9, 2026
Trey Baylor, East Idaho News
POCATELLO — A Pocatello man has been arrested after an investigation found enough probable cause to charge him with lewd conduct and s*xual battery of a minor.
Braydon Jay Spanton, 30, has been charged with one count of lewd conduct with a minor under the age of 16 and two counts of s*xual battery of a minor child. All three are felony charges.
Court documents report that on Oct. 27, 2025, the Pocatello Police Department received a report from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Child Protection Services (CPS) that Spanton allegedly engaged in lewd conduct with his younger relative while they were living in Pocatello.
According to the report, Spanton and the victim were both living at Spanton’s mother’s home. Spanton and the victim both reportedly slept on opposite ends of an L-shaped couch. In July 2025, after coming home drunk, Spanton allegedly assaulted the victim.
The incident went unreported until sometime before the victim moved to Oregon in September 2025 to live with their aunt. At that time, the victim first reported the incident to a friend and their sister, then to their mother, who reported it to the police.
On Nov. 24, 2025, the Pocatello Police Department received an initial screening report from the Oregon Department of Health Services and Child Welfare, followed by a second report on Dec. 2 of that year that included the forensic interview with the victim.
In the interview, the victim reported that for several nights in a row in July 2025, Spanton would allegedly come home drunk and rub the victim’s thighs while other family members were asleep, according to court documents. On the last night, Spanton allegedly came home drunk, got on top of the victim, and inappropriately touched them.
The victim reported the encounter lasted about one minute before Spanton got up, lay on the other side of the couch, and fell asleep.
The victim reported that the next morning they woke before Spanton, took a shower, and asked a cousin to pick them up. At around 8 p.m. the next day, Spanton was allegedly the only person available to pick the victim up. They reported that during the car ride, Spanton allegedly acted like nothing had happened, which the victim found confusing.
Soon after the victim reported the incident to their mother, members of the victim’s family reportedly confronted Spanton via a phone call, which they reportedly recorded, according to court documents. When Spanton was confronted, court documents say he responded with shock, saying, “Oh my god, are you serious? I can’t believe that…that’s why I stopped drinking ’cause I’d just black out and I forget things.”
Spanton allegedly did not deny the accusation during the recorded call with family. When the family suggested there would likely be legal consequences, Spanton reportedly responded, “Yeah, I’ll do whatever I have to do.”
In speaking with family and acquaints of Spanton, law enforcement was reportedly told by several individuals that Spanton had had issues with alcohol in the past.
A warrant for Spanton’s arrest was issued Sept. 18. He was taken into custody Oct. 8.
Spanton has been appointed a public defender. The Idaho State Public Defender’s Office does not comment on active cases.
If found guilty of the charges, Spanton may face up to life in prison and may be required to pay fines of up to $150,000.
Spanton is scheduled to appear in court next Oct. 20 for a preliminary hearing.
Although Spanton has been accused of these crimes, that does not necessarily mean he committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
