Derek Duncan, 31, of Sandpoint pleaded not guilty Tuesday to two counts of rape by force in Bonner County District Court. The charges stem from an alleged assault that occurred July 4, 2026, following Sandpoint’s Lions Club fireworks celebration.
According to court records, the alleged victim was between 16 and 17 years old at the time of the incident. Prosecutors allege Duncan provided illegal substances to the victim, which were present in her system during the alleged assault. The following morning, authorities say Duncan asked the victim not to report the abuse.
Duncan is currently held at Bonner County Jail. A pretrial conference is scheduled for October 13, with a three-day jury trial set to begin November 18.
If convicted on both felony counts, Duncan faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and would be required to register on the National Sex Offender Registry. He is also serving unsupervised probation from Kootenai County for a prior petit theft conviction.
Bail was set at $500,000.
What Comes Next
Duncan and his legal team will appear at the pretrial conference in October to address discovery issues and any remaining procedural matters before trial. The case will proceed to a jury trial in mid-November unless a plea agreement is reached beforehand.
As this case moves through the courts, it reflects Idaho’s ongoing efforts to expand public access to court records, allowing community members to follow criminal proceedings. For additional context on serious felony cases in North Idaho, see coverage of another pending murder trial in Kootenai County.