‘Extreme risk’: Owner of Boise rock and gem shop charged with rape, attempted strangulation
The owner of Idaho Rocks & Gems — who also runs a local rockhounding club — was charged with two felonies after prosecutors said he sexually assaulted a woman.
Ada County Deputy Prosecutor Samuel Camp in court alleged that 39-year-old Craig Branham on Monday grabbed a woman by her throat, shoved her into a wall, then pushed her into the bedroom and held her down by her throat while he “forcibly raped” her, according to an audio recording of the hearing reviewed by the Idaho Statesman.
Camp said in court Tuesday that the woman repeatedly asked Branham to stop and physically resisted. The assault lasted for roughly 30 minutes while Branham choked the woman and hit her in the face and chest, Camp added.
Officers who spoke with the survivor noticed bruising on her cheeks, redness on her neck and chest along with bloodshot eyes, according to Camp.
Branham was arrested by the Boise Police Department on Monday, according to jail records. The department didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking additional information Wednesday.
Branham owns Idaho Rocks & Gems on North Orchard Street in the Boise Bench and recently announced on his website that he was moving into a larger building down the street. The Boise resident also runs the Idaho Rockhounders Club, a local group that hosts outings to search and dig for rocks and gems. The Facebook group has over 35,000 members.
Given the “obviously” high risk to the community, Camp said, he asked that Ada County Magistrate Judge Joanne Kibodeaux set Branham’s bond at $500,000, while the defense asked for a $150,000 bond, noting that Branham’s prior criminal history was minimal. Kibodeaux sided with the prosecution.
“I find, if these allegations are accurate, that you pose an extreme risk to the public — in particular this victim,” Kibodeaux told Branham.
Branham remained in custody at the Ada County Jail as of Wednesday afternoon, according to jail records.
Kibodeaux also issued a no-contact order, which prevents Branham from contacting the survivor in any manner or engaging in “any other contact that would place” the woman “in any fear of bodily injury.” He’s also prevented from knowingly coming within 1,000 feet of the survivor or her home and work.
“I want you to understand that a violation of his order would be a separate crime under Idaho law,” Kibodeaux said.
