The Idaho Supreme Court affirmed the conviction and life sentences of Todd Marshall Frandsen, who was found guilty in 2023 of two counts of lewd conduct with a minor under sixteen. The court issued an amended opinion on January 7, 2026, upholding the district court's judgment and rejecting Frandsen's appeal.
Frandsen received two concurrent life sentences, each with 20-year fixed terms, following his conviction by a Bannock County jury under Idaho Code Section 18-1508. The case was heard in the District Court of the Sixth Judicial District of Idaho, Bannock County, with District Judge Rick Carnaroli presiding.
The Idaho Supreme Court's decision came after considering four main arguments raised by Frandsen in his appeal. Justice Moeller authored the opinion for the high court, which was filed as Docket No. 50878.
Frandsen's first argument centered on a jury-related issue that arose on the third day of trial. He contended that the district court erred in denying his request to dismiss a juror who remembered that she had attended middle school with one of the victims almost a decade earlier. The defense argued this connection created a potential conflict that should have resulted in the juror's removal.
The second challenge involved the admission of text messages between one of the victims and the victim's mother. Frandsen's legal team, led by attorney Greg S. Silvey of Silvey Law Office, Ltd., argued that these text messages were irrelevant hearsay that contained evidence of uncharged conduct. The defense maintained that allowing these communications into evidence was prejudicial and violated proper evidentiary standards.
The third issue concerned the testimony of a forensic interviewer who had been disclosed as a fact witness but was later allowed to testify as an expert witness for the State of Idaho. Frandsen argued that this change in the witness's role was improper and that the district court erred in permitting the expert testimony without proper notice or qualification.
The case also involved a fourth argument, though the complete details of this contention were not fully outlined in the available court documents.
The State of Idaho was represented by Attorney General Raúl R. Labrador's office, with prosecutor John McKinney arguing the case before the Supreme Court. The state defended the district court's handling of all four issues raised by Frandsen.
The charges against Frandsen fell under Idaho Code Section 18-1508, which addresses lewd conduct with a minor under sixteen. This statute criminalizes various forms of sexual contact or conduct involving children under the age of sixteen. Convictions under this statute can result in significant prison sentences, as demonstrated by the life sentences imposed in this case.
The case represents the completion of a lengthy legal process that began with Frandsen's initial charges and proceeded through trial, conviction, sentencing, and ultimately appeal to the state's highest court. The fact that the Idaho Supreme Court issued an amended opinion suggests there may have been initial concerns or clarifications needed in the original decision dated December 19, 2025.
The Supreme Court's affirmance means that Frandsen's conviction and sentences will stand. The two concurrent life sentences with 20-year fixed terms represent substantial punishment reflecting the serious nature of the charges and the court's determination that the evidence supported the jury's guilty verdict.
This case highlights the Idaho judicial system's handling of serious crimes involving minors and demonstrates the appellate process available to defendants seeking to challenge their convictions. The Supreme Court's review of the four specific trial issues shows the thoroughness with which appellate courts examine claims of trial court error.
The involvement of multiple victims in the case, as evidenced by the text message evidence and the juror's connection to one victim, suggests the scope of the alleged criminal conduct. The use of forensic interviewer testimony also indicates the specialized techniques employed in cases involving child victims.
The case's resolution at the Idaho Supreme Court level means that Frandsen has exhausted his direct appeal options within the state court system. Any further legal challenges would need to proceed through different legal avenues, such as post-conviction relief proceedings or federal court review.
The amended opinion issued on January 7, 2026, represents the final word from Idaho's highest court on this matter, bringing closure to a case that has moved through multiple levels of the state's judicial system since the initial charges were filed.