Idaho lawyer faces child sex-abuse charges

A North Idaho attorney is being held without bail in San Diego after allegations he sexually abused a teenage girl, including during "dates" at Southern California hotels.

David C. Jacquot, 52, also is under investigation in Bonner County, Idaho, for a suspicious fire that destroyed his rural home days after authorities learned of the abuse allegations.

Fire officials reportedly found more than 40 firearms, including a grenade launcher, while searching the remains of the anti-tax attorney's scorched home in March. Authorities say the fire appeared to be arson.

A federal grand jury in San Diego indicted Jacquot last month on child-exploitation charges. He was ordered held without bail earlier this month at a hearing in U.S. District Court in Southern California.

His lawyer, Michael Crowley, filed a notice of appeal Sept. 9. He did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Jacquot was indicted Aug. 13 on three counts of transportation of the minor, who lived in North Idaho, to engage in criminal sexual activity. If convicted, Jacquot could face a maximum prison sentence of 90 years. The charges come at the same time Jacquot is preparing for trial on federal accusations that he filed false tax returns in 2002 and 2003 while serving as vice president and general counsel for Xelan, a financial-management company.

His now-defunct website described him as an aggressive "tax hero" who served nine years in the U.S. Army before retiring because of Gulf War injuries.

He graduated from Oregon State University in 1984 and earned a law degree from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1989. He practiced law in Coeur d'Alene, according to his website, and also kept an office in San Diego.

In March, the teen told her high-school counselor that David Jacquot had been sexually abusing her. Federal prosecutors say Jacquot began raping the girl several years ago.

He is accused of flying her from Spokane to San Diego three times in May and June 2006 "with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity with her."

Federal investigators say Jacquot stayed with the girl at hotels and rented sexually explicit movies.