BOISE -- Ada County Sheriff’s detectives believe there could be additional victims of a retired Boise Police officer charged with lewd conduct with minor children.
The investigation into Stephen R. Young’s behavior began March 2 when detectives learned the 58-year-old had sexual contact with as many as a half-dozen infants over the past five years.
Young is in the Ada County Jail charged with five counts of lewd conduct with a child under the age of 16. Additional charges are pending.
After two more weeks of investigation, detectives believe Young also had inappropriate contact with other minors with whom he has come into contact with as a school resource officer, coach, friend or neighbor.
“We know that Steve Young lived and worked around young people on a daily basis for many years. We’d like to hear from anyone in the community who has information about inappropriate behavior he may have shown, especially toward children,” said Detective Craig Durrell. “It is important for us to talk with these other victims to get them any help they may need and to ensure that justice is served in this case.”
Young worked as an elementary school resource officer in Boise from 1995-2000. Those schools included Owhyee, McKinley, Monroe and Whitney. He was assigned as a school resource officer to South Junior High from 2000 – 2004, and Boise High from 2004 – 2006.
We talked a girl who was a student from at South Junior High from 2000 to 2003 and knew Young.
Nichole says that she saw him on a regular basis because at the time she had some run-ins with the law.
She says, time and time again, while in uniform, Young would make comments to her and her 12-year-old friends that were inappropriate.
"I used to always tell him, I might not catch you now and nobody might catch now for the things that you're saying and doing to the students at South, I said, but eventually years down the road something will come out and you will get in trouble. And he used to laugh and say, 'well good luck with that,'" said Nichole.
Nichole says she never heard or saw Young do anything illegal, but witnessed several things that she says were inappropriate and possibly unethical.
She says he would offer to tear up smoking tickets for her and her friends if they agreed to go to lunch with him.
Another time, Nichole claims he stole a diary and made inappropriate sexual comments about the contents.
When we spoke with Nichole Tuesday afternoon, she had not talked with police or prosecutors about her experiences. She plans to take that step in the next few days.
Meanwhile, Boise Police are assisting in the investigation to find all the victims in this case.
Anyone with information about Stephen Young is urged to call Ada County dispatch at 377-6790.
