Trial Date Set In Sex Abuse Case Against Ex-Jr. High Principal

There are new developments on Tuesday in the sexual abuse case against former Snake River Junior High principal Christopher Cox.

Cox is charged with 3 counts of sex abuse of a minor child under 16, and he stood before district court judge Gregory Moeller in Blackfoot on Tuesday to be arraigned on those charges.

A surprise motion by defense attorney Justin Oleson to amend an existing no-contact order in this case took center-stage during the proceeding. The motion was made shortly after Cox entered individual not-guilty pleas to each of the three counts against him.

The original no-contact order had stipulated Cox have no contact with any child under the age of 18, except his own. Oleson said Cox couldn’t even go to Wal-mart or church given the terms of that order, and asked judge Moeller to change the wording to allow him to be around children if supervised.

Moeller had also received a letter from a woman named Kimberli Williams. That letter was not made available to the public, but seemed to request leniency as well. Moeller said the court was, “uncomfortable” amending the order in broad terms.

“As far as modifying the no-contact order, the court is willing to make one modification,” said judge Moeller. “The court will allow the defendant to have supervised conduct with the family of Kimberli Williams. But as far as extending it any further at this point, the court is not comfortable in doing that.”

After court adjourned on Tuesday, reporter Caleb James attempted to approach Cox in the Bingham County Courthouse parking lot. Cox got inside his pickup and left the scene.

Our station’s repeated attempts to get Cox’s side of the story over the phone and by letter, have received no response since the beginning of this case.

Cox will face a jury on July 11.