An Iona man accepted a plea deal at the Bonneville County Courthouse in Idaho Falls on Oct. 10 reducing his felony charge of child sexual battery to an amended charge of felony injury to a child.

Joel Christopher Hollaway, 38, had pled not guilty to the original charge at his arraignment on Dec. 5, 2023, according to court records.

The charge was made following a report to which deputies from the Bonneville County Sheriff's Office responded to Hollaway's residence on Nov. 11, 2023.

A 16-year-old female texted her mother from the bathroom of Hollaway's residence after he allegedly sexually assaulted her on his living room couch, according to court records.

The victim told deputies she "acted like she was asleep on the couch" while Hollaway allegedly assaulted her. After pretending to wa

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