Man Accused of Child Rape Was Friend of Victim's Family

By Taylor Viydo
KREM
November 3, 2015

http://www.krem.com/story/news/local/kootenai-county/2015/11/03/man-accused-child-rape-friend-victims-family/75129692/

Kevin Sloniker, 30

A man who knew a Coeur d’Alene truck driver accused of abusing underage boys spoke out on Tuesday. He said the suspect abused one of his relatives.

Court documents stated Kevin Sloniker, 30, is accused of sexually abusing ten different boys between 2005 and 2015.

Since this man's relative reported an incident of unwanted touching involving Sloniker, KREM 2 agreed to not reveal his identity so we will be referring to him as Ralph. He said he thought that Sloniker was socially awkward, but he was extremely surprised when these allegations against him surfaced.

Ralph said he first met Sloniker while attending camp where Sloniker was a counselor. One of Ralph's relatives was friends with Sloniker and told detectives about an incident of unwanted touching when he was a teenager. Ralph said he was not aware of that until court documents in this case were released.

He said Sloniker once coordinated with his mom to pick up one of his relatives and take him to a music store in Coeur d’Alene. Ralph said Sloniker took his relative there because he was interested in a ukulele. According to court documents, the ukulele cost $200 and was one of the many gifts Sloniker gave him.

“It was kind of like something where you think to yourself like 'Should I take a second look at this? Is this weird or what?’” said Ralph.

Ralph said he was not as close to Sloniker as some of his relatives. He said Sloniker would come over to their home to teach them how to be altar boys for a Catholic mass. Ralph said he could tell that Sloniker was different, but never struck him as a creep.

"He just came off as what I would describe as 'country or farm' weird. Like kind of one of those guys who grows up in the middle of nowhere so he's socially awkward or whatever," said Ralph.

Ralph said he is troubled by the allegations against Sloniker since he was considered a friend by his family.

Sloniker is being held on $1 million bond. Prosecutors said they are considering additional charges in this case as authorities continue their investigation.