Idaho National Guard recruiter arrested for allegedly sexually abusing teenage girl
Ada County sheriff’s deputies on Saturday arrested a 40-year-old recruiter for the Idaho Army National Guard who is accused of sexually abusing a teenage girl.
Sgt. 1st Class Keith Maxwell, of Boise, is charged on suspicion of lewd conduct with a minor younger than age 16. Deputies arrested Maxwell a short time after the alleged incident, according to Ada County sheriff’s spokesman Patrick Orr.
Deputies were sent to a home in a neighborhood near Lake Hazel and South Five Mile roads to investigate just after 2 a.m. Saturday. The victim knew Maxwell, Orr said. Deputies gathered evidence, arrested Maxwell and booked him into the Ada County Jail.
Maj. Chris Borders, a spokesman, said the Idaho National Guard is aware of the arrest.
“The Idaho National Guard considers this situation extremely serious and although it is under investigation, we are taking immediate personnel action to remove Sgt. First Class Maxwell from recruiting,” Borders wrote in an email to the Statesman. That action was effective as of Sunday.
“Our top priorities include protecting the well-being and safety of all Idaho citizens, and we will fully cooperate with our local law enforcement throughout the investigation,” Borders wrote. “Our recruiters undergo extensive and additional background checks — on top of what all soldiers normally undergo — because we consider recruiting a position of significant trust, given the nature of their work.
“Once the investigation is complete, we will then take further appropriate actions depending on the results of the investigation.”
