Northern Idaho Man Convicted of Ritualized Family Abuse

Associated Press
February 16, 2018

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/idaho/articles/2018-02-16/priest-river-man-convicted-of-ritualized-abuse-of-his-family

A northern Idaho man accused of using his religious beliefs to justify the physical and sexual abuse of his wife and children was found guilty of more than a dozen felony charges.

A jury on Thursday convicted 49-year-old Dana Andrew Furtney on charges including sexual abuse of a child, ritualized abuse, domestic violence and multiple counts of lewd conduct, the Bonner County Daily Bee reported .

The verdict was delivered after about jurors deliberated about two hours. The Bonner County jury acquitted Furtney on one count of lewd conduct.

Authorities said Furtney abused his family at home in the city of Priest River 2009 and 2013. Furtney was accused of groping his daughters and of chaining his son inside a tunnel on their property and binding him to an outhouse wall for at least a week.

He was indicted on 14 felony charges last year.

Against the wishes of his lawyer, Furtney testified in court Thursday.

Furtney told the court that he may have inappropriately touched his daughters while giving massages, but said it was not for his own sexual gratification.

Furtney is scheduled to be sentenced in May.