Jury trial has been scheduled for April 25 for a Hailey man who is accused of molesting a 4-year-old girl.
Twenty-three-year-old Ovidio Ricaldi-Villajuan, who court records say is suspected of being an illegal immigrant, is charged with lewd conduct with a minor child under 16. He was arrested by Hailey police on Nov. 11, 2006, at a residence on Winterhaven Drive in southeastern Hailey.
Meanwhile, a plea agreement is being discussed between Rupert attorney David Pena, who is representing Ricaldi-Villajuan, and the Blaine County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. A court hearing has been tentatively scheduled for March 27 in the event an agreement is reached.
The case was discussed in Blaine County 5th District Court at a status hearing on Jan. 31 before presiding Judge Barry Wood.
Ricaldi-Villajuan appeared in orange jail attire with bound hands and feet. A Spanish-speaking interpreter was enlisted to help the defendant with communications with the court.
The charge against Ricaldi-Villajuan carries a maximum penalty in Idaho of up to life in prison.
Ricaldi-Villajuan was arrested after the mother of the alleged victim made a 911 emergency call to the Blaine County Sheriff's Office and reported that she found a man with her 4-year-old daughter and that the child's pants had been removed.
A "probable cause affidavit," a document filed with the court by the investigating police agency that is normally public information, has been sealed in the case and is not available for public review.
However, the criminal complaint against Ricaldi-Villajuan alleges that the defendant engaged in "manual to genital contact and, or genital to genital contact" with the girl "with the intent of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying his own lust, passions or sexual desires, or those of the minor child."
Ricaldi-Villajuan is being held in the Blaine County Jail on $50,000 bond. Court records say he could be subject to deportation if released from jail.
Ovidio Ricaldi-Villajuan
