A 21-year-old Pocatello man who entered a guilty plea on a felony rape charge in Bannock County is now confronting an additional felony charge in Bonneville County, where prosecutors allege he sexually assaulted an 8-year-old girl when he was 16 years old.
Taisen Lopez-Scharer was charged in March with one count of lewd conduct with a minor under the age of sixteen — a felony offense that carries a potential sentence of life in prison. The charge stems from an incident that occurred in June 2021 in Idaho Falls, though the formal charge was not filed until this year following a lengthy investigation.
Bannock County Plea Agreement and Prior Charges
In Bannock County, Lopez-Scharer reached a plea agreement with prosecutors in March, admitting guilt to one felony rape count. Under the terms of that agreement, three additional rape charges were dropped, and a separate case involving four felony counts of possession of child sexual abuse materials was dismissed. His sentencing before Bannock County District Judge Javier Gabiola is scheduled for June 4.
The charges across both counties involve different victims. This is not the first time Lopez-Scharer has faced serious allegations of this nature in Southeast Idaho — a pattern that investigators say factored into the renewed focus on the Idaho Falls case. A Pocatello man was previously charged with two felony counts of sexual battery of a minor in a separate case, highlighting the region’s ongoing challenges with crimes against children.
Idaho Falls Investigation and New Accusation
According to a police booking affidavit, Idaho Falls officers responded on June 29, 2021, to a report involving the sexual assault of an 8-year-old girl. The child told a family member that Lopez-Scharer had inappropriately touched her on more than one occasion over a two-day period, and that he had instructed her not to tell anyone.
When confronted by the girl’s family, Lopez-Scharer initially denied any wrongdoing. However, after being informed he would be required to submit to a polygraph examination, he confessed to inappropriately touching the child, according to the affidavit.
Despite the 2021 report, the case saw minimal forward movement for several years. In March 2025, a new detective was assigned to the investigation and obtained records from a forensic interview conducted with the victim shortly after the original incident. That interview reportedly documented the girl’s account of what Lopez-Scharer had done to her.
By June 2025, the detective was working to arrange a follow-up forensic interview with the victim, who was now considerably older. During that period, the detective also reviewed court records from Lopez-Scharer’s Bannock County cases and noted what was described as a documented history of sexual conduct involving younger victims. Some of those Bannock County documents reportedly contained references to the Idaho Falls incident involving the 8-year-old.
In August 2025, the victim participated in a second forensic interview. In that session, she alleged that Lopez-Scharer had raped her and that she had physically attempted to resist him. Investigators subsequently attempted to question Lopez-Scharer about the Bonneville County allegations, but he declined to speak without an attorney present.
Lopez-Scharer is scheduled to appear before Bonneville County Magistrate Judge Wiley Dennert for a preliminary hearing on May 19.
As with all criminal defendants, Lopez-Scharer is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
What Comes Next
Lopez-Scharer faces significant legal proceedings in two Idaho counties in the coming weeks. His Bannock County sentencing is set for June 4, where he could face substantial prison time on the rape conviction. In Bonneville County, the May 19 preliminary hearing will determine whether the lewd conduct charge proceeds to district court. A conviction on that charge alone could result in a life sentence. Bannock County residents and those following local public safety matters can expect updates as both cases move through the court system. For broader Idaho criminal justice coverage, visit Idaho News.