Prosecutor seeks input from Mowrey victims

Convicted sexual predator up for parole

WALLACE — It was 18 years ago that Daniel Mowrey went to prison for committing multiple child involved sex crimes in Shoshone County. With the help of the community, Shoshone County Prosecutor Keisha Oxendine is hoping to keep him there.

Oxendine announced on Monday that Mowrey would be up for parole in November. In an effort to sway the board into denying his parole, Oxendine wants to utilize the voices of Mowrey’s victims and the community.

“We’re attempting to locate present contact information of the victims so that we can directly communicate with the parole commission their thoughts on his parole,” she said. “We want to gather community input to support our objection to his parole.”

Following an extensive investigation involving multiple law enforcement officers, Mowrey pleaded guilty in 2002 to four separate counts of lewd conduct with a minor under 16. For his crimes, he received four consecutive prison sentences — each for five years to life.

“Beyond just the molestation component, he was engaging these kids in acts of child pornography as well,” Oxendine explained. “He utilized grooming behaviors to gain the trust of these kids and desensitize them to what his ultimate plan was.”

It is believed that at least seven juveniles (most likely much more) were victimized by Mowrey in the late-1990s/early-2000s.

While Oxendine was not involved in his initial conviction, she was successful in contesting a post-conviction release he attempted to receive some years back. This upcoming parole commission hearing would be Mowrey’s first since Oxendine became prosecutor in 2008.

When she first heard about the parole hearing, Oxendine was immediately worried about the threat Mowrey poses to others.

“This type of sexual predator is almost a textbook case of reoffending,” she said. “When I look at someone like this, I see him returning to a community, targeting victims and engaging in the same pattern of behavior.”

If you are a victim of Mowrey, know how to contact someone who is/was, or you are a survivor who would like to write a letter to the parole commission, Oxendine asks that you contact her victim-witness coordinator at 208-556-1970 or email them at vwc@co.shoshone.id.us.

The prosecutor’s office is also accepting comments from members of the community who may feel strongly about this topic. The office can be reached at 208-752-1106. Community letters can also be sent to Oxendine at prosecutor@co.shoshone.id.us.

“To have someone like this returning potentially to this or another community, it’s just … I can’t let that happen and we will certainly welcome any support we can get to make sure he stays where he is.”

The prosecutor’s office can be located at 700 Bank St., Suite 200, Wallace.