A 23-year-old Twin Falls man appeared in magistrate court Friday on two counts of lewd conduct with a child under 16 following an incident that prompted a hospital report from St. Luke’s Magic Valley Medical Center.
Arthur J. Barksdale-Sutton is accused in connection with an alleged incident involving a four-year-old child. The child was brought to the medical facility on July 16 after complaining of pain. Hospital staff observed injuries, contacted local law enforcement, and reported the matter to authorities.
According to court records, the child’s mother noticed blood on toilet paper after the child used the bathroom, prompting the hospital visit. During the investigation, Barksdale-Sutton allegedly admitted to touching the child inappropriately.
Twin Falls County Magistrate Court set bond at $1,000,000 during the initial appearance. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 21.
Lewd conduct charges involving minors are among the most serious offenses in Idaho’s criminal code. The case will proceed through the magistrate court system, where the prosecution must demonstrate probable cause at the preliminary hearing stage before the matter can advance to district court.
What Comes Next: The preliminary hearing on July 21 will determine whether sufficient evidence exists to bind the case over to Twin Falls County District Court. Barksdale-Sutton remains in custody pending that hearing. If bound over, the case would proceed through the felony docket in district court, where a plea or trial would be scheduled.
Anyone with information related to this matter is encouraged to contact the Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office or the Twin Falls Police Department.