LEWISTON, ID – A former Lewiston daycare operator has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for sexually abusing a young child in his care. Chad Heath was sentenced today in Second District Court. He pled guilty to Lewd Conduct With a Child Under 16 on November 28th.
According to a press release from the Nez Perce County Prosecutor’s Office, Heath was involved with running a daycare in the 1400 block of Cedar Avenue between 2009 and 2018. The female victim attended the daycare, and over nine years, she was typically taken upstairs to a bedroom by Heath and given an iPad.
“While the child was watching the screen, he would undress the five year old and remove her clothing. He then “digitally stimulated and digitally penetrated” the child,” the press release says.
During sentencing, Chief Criminal Prosecutor April Smith argued for a long prison sentence because Heath is a danger to the public.
“She believed society is safer if Mr. Heath was in prison. The pre-sentence investigation recommended Mr. Heath only get a RIDER and then be placed on probation,” the press release adds.
Ultimately, Judge Mark Monson ordered a 30 year prison sentence with the possibility of parole after eight years.
“This case is every parent’s [worst] fear. Sexual predators like Mr. Heath deserve to be in prison for as long as possible and not in our community. I want to thank Chief Deputy Smith for her hard work on this case and fighting for a lengthy sentence,” Prosecutor Justin Coleman says.
