Idler jailed for violating protection order

Josh Idler has been jailed after being accused of breaking the terms of his bond and violating a protection order, which states that he cannot visit his wife’s place of employment or be within 500 feet of his children.

Idler currently faces felony charges of child abuse and aggravated assault and battery, to which he changed his plea to guilty in October. Idler has also admitted to breaking the terms of his probation on a previous case in which he was adjudicated guilty of counts including reckless endangerment, child abuse and domestic abuse.

As these are two separate cases, the first has been assigned to Judge James Michael Causey and the second to Judge Stuart S. Healy III.

According to a statement of probable caused filed by a Crook County Sheriff’s Office deputy, an order of protection was issued on February 17. Part of this order states that Idler may not be at his wife’s place of employment or near enough to upset her life under any circumstances, and he may also not place her under surveillance.

Idler also had a $50,000 bond in place associated with ongoing felony cases, with terms and conditions stating that he may not be within a block of his wife and children.

According to the statement, dispatch notified deputies on December 4 at around 5:15 p.m. that a possible violation of the protection order had taken place. Idler’s wife called in stating that she noticed his pickup across from her place of work in Sundance.

As she left her workplace at around 5 p.m., she allegedly noticed Idler pull in behind her and follow her without his headlights on.

As Idler’s wife arrived to pick up some of her children, she allegedly observed him drive by “at a very slow rate of speed” with his headlights still off. When she came back outside, she could no longer see him.

According to the statement, Idler’s wife made the comment that, “This isn’t the first time he has done this since the protection order has been in place”.

Deputies made contact with Idler, who stated that he had been at a meeting with his probation officer shortly before the alleged incident. As he left, he said he noticed a female at his wife’s workplace but was unsure whether it was her.

Deputies questioned this statement on the basis that Idler and his wife have been married for around 20 years. Idler allegedly responded that he “did not want to stare”.

Idler allegedly confirmed that he had known for a couple of days where his wife worked and that he knew he could not be around his kids. His wife stated that Idler was informed of the address where his kids would be that day.

However, when asked why he drove by the address, Idler claimed he did not know they were there. He also commented that he was confused as to what was going on and allegedly asked, “Was that [my wife] in the vehicle in front of me when I drove by?”

Video footage from the wife’s workplace allegedly shows Idler standing beside his truck, staring at the workplace and then getting into the pickup. He can then allegedly be seen flashing his lights on and off a few times.

The video also allegedly shows Idler following his wife with his headlights off and crossing all lanes of traffic to turn onto a side street to follow her.

“It is not believed that this was an accidental meeting,” according to the statement of probable cause.

A criminal warrant for Idler’s arrest was issued by Judge Causey on December 7 on the basis that he violated two conditions of the protection order: coming within a block of an address at which his wife and children are located and failing to immediately retreat from any location where he encounters them.

At a hearing on Friday, Judge Healey determined that there was insufficient evidence to prove that Idler broke the terms of his probation and did not revoke his bond.

However, the warrant issued by Judge Causey orders that Idler be held until sentencing in the new case. Idler’s lawyers filed a motion for a bond hearing, which was denied, and have subsequently filed a second motion requesting the same.

Sentencing on Idler’s plea of guilty to two felony counts of child abuse and one of aggravated assault and battery is currently scheduled for January 18.