MERIDIAN, Idaho — Isaiah Teague, 25, a Meridian youth pastor, was sentenced to life in prison this week for sexually abusing a minor. He will serve a minimum of 20 years following a guilty plea to a felony charge of lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor.
Court documents indicate Teague committed five separate counts of sexual abuse against a 14-year-old victim over more than a year. Teague allegedly threatened the victim, saying he could make her “disappear” if she told anyone.
The abuse was discovered when the victim’s mother found messages on her daughter’s phone discussing the assaults. Teague, a close family friend and youth pastor, carried out the abuse in his home while his wife and child were sleeping nearby. He admitted to the actions, repeatedly claiming they were consensual. In Idaho, the age of consent is 18.
Ada County Prosecutor Jan Bennetts condemned Teague’s actions, stating, “This defendant held himself out as a trusted adult while repeatedly sexually abusing a child and using threats to keep her silent. The court’s sentence reflects the profound betrayal involved, the permanent harm to the victim, and the necessity of protecting the community from further abuse.”
Presiding Judge Cynthia Yee-Wallace described the conduct as “offensive to justice” and highlighted the serious breach of trust. In addition to the prison sentence, the court imposed a 50-year no-contact order between Teague and all minors, including the victim.
