The Idaho Falls Police Department is conducting an investigation that has led to the arrest of Richard Dutton, a 51-year-old Idaho Falls resident, for Felony Lewd Conduct with a Child and Felony Sexual Exploitation of a Child.

On January 7th, staff at an area elementary school contacted law enforcement after two children disclosed to adults that they had been sexually abused by a former neighbor and babysitter, Richard Dutton, at a residence in Idaho Falls.

Idaho Falls Police Detectives conducted an investigation into this disclosure. In interviews one child, a 13-year-old male, reported that he had been sexually abused by Dutton for 6 to 7 years with the last incident occurring in December 2019. A second child, a 10-year-old female, reported that she had been sexually abused by Dutton for the previous 2 years. Both children reported significant sexual contact from Dutton. The male child reported that Dutton had also taken nude pictures of him during sexual acts.

Yesterday, January 15th, Idaho Falls Police Detectives served a search warrant on Dutton’s residence with the assistance of the Idaho Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit. Several computers and cell phones were collected from the residence. Dutton’s cell phone was among the items seized and was found to contain sexually exploitative material.

In an interview with Idaho Falls Police Detectives, Dutton admitted to committing sexual acts with the male child as well as to taking pictures of the acts. Dutton admitted to this happening three to four times.

Dutton was arrested and taken to the Bonneville County Jail. This investigation is ongoing and additional charges are pending based on the results of that investigation.

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