FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
| Date: | May 18, 2020 |
| Contact: | Emily Lowe Public Information Officer 208-287-7700 |
| RE: | State v. Steven Roach sentencing |
BOISE – A 62-year-old Boise man was sentenced Monday to serve up to 30 years in prison for the felony crimes of stalking in the first degree and sexual abuse of a minor under 16 years of age.
Steven Roach was arrested on January 17, 2020 by Boise Police officers following a report that students from a local elementary school were being followed home from school by an unidentified man. An investigation was started and Mr. Roach was contacted by police when he was seen engaging in stalking behaviors near the elementary school. At the time of his contact and subsequent arrest, Mr. Roach was found with his pants undone and exposing himself. He was charged with stalking in the first degree and misdemeanor indecent exposure.
As the investigation continued, Mr. Roach was charged with additional felonies as similar incidents in recent months and years were connected to him. The prosecuting attorney’s office later amended his original charges to include 8 felony counts of stalking in the first degree, sexual abuse of a minor under 16, and attempted sexual abuse of a minor. He was charged with sexual abuse of a minor under 16 for exposing himself and masturbating in front of two elementary school children who were walking home from school.
On March 16, 2020 Mr. Roach pleaded guilty to one count of stalking in the first degree and one count of sexual abuse of a child under the age of 16.
Ada County District Judge Steven Hippler sentenced Mr. Roach Monday to 30 years in prison, with 10 years fixed before being eligible for parole. A no contact order was put in place for all minor children for the length of his sentence and he is required to register as a sex offender.
Ada County Prosecutors asked for a 30 year sentence, with 20 years fixed in prison. This sentencing request was due to his criminal history, which includes indecent exposure convictions in 1985, 1989 and 2006, the fact that he was determined to be a high-risk to reoffend, the fact that he admitted to exposing himself to others over 100 times over the past 45 years, and his being a danger to the most vulnerable population in the community—young children.
Judge Hippler said during Monday’s sentencing, even though Mr. Roach has been arrested and
charged for exposing himself in the past, he was not deterred by the criminal consequences he
received nor has the social consequences of his actions deterred him either. He added, Mr. Roach’s
conduct created trauma for his victims “that will be long last ing if not life lasting” and that there
was a high likelihood he would commit the offenses again if not punished.
“Thank you to the Boise Police Officers who investigated these crimes, which helped my offic e
ensure justice was served and helped us keep our community safe,” said Ada County Prosecutor Jan
M. Bennetts.