BOISE, Idaho — Christopher Ryan, the former principal at Fairmont Junior High in Boise, was back in court on Friday, April 19. Ryan is charged with felony injury to a child.
On Friday, Judge Nancy Baskin heard arguments on several motions, granted a hearing over a specific witnesses' testimony and set a date for the pre-trial and her oral ruling on the motions heard.
There was a large amount of people in the Ada County courtroom as Baskin listened to arguments over motions to dismiss and a motion to exclude.
One of the arguments heard was in regard to the definition of "bodily harm" in an Idaho Statute. The defense stated that the definition of "bodily harm" should only pertain to the physical. Baskin responded by stating that the term is meant to be broad because the purpose of the statute is to protect children.
There were also other arguments pertaining to the idea of "care and custody," misconduct before a grand jury and a mischaracterization of evidence.
One motion was over a particular witnesses' testimony given to the grand jury. Dr. Matthew Cox is a witness of the state and was formerly the director of the Children at Risk Evaluation Services (CARES) at St. Luke's CARES. Ryan's lawyer argued that in specific testimony, the doctor had overstepped his authoritative bounds when he stated that a principal had a "heightened duty" in regard to reporting child abuse cases.
Judge Baskin agreed.
"His qualifications to make certain opinions is not obvious to me," Baskin said.
She scheduled a 702 hearing for the doctor. A 702 hearing will decide if Dr. Cox's testimony will be admissible if the case goes to trial.
Ryan's pre-trial date was set for May 3 at 1 p.m., and will give her oral rulings on the motions heard on Friday. The trial is set for May 28.
Prior to ending court, Baskin asked how long each legal team expected the trial to take. Both determined it's expected to last until the week of June 10.
Ryan was the principal at Fairmont Junior High during the time Scott Crandall, a social worker, was also employed there. Crandell was accused of having a sexual relationship with a student.
Ryan is accused of knowing about the abuse and not reporting or prohibiting it after several teachers warned Ryan of the inappropriate relationship. Crandell took his life in December 2022, shortly after the investigation began.
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