BOISE, Idaho — Former Caldwell police officer Ryan Bendawald, who faces federal charges for allegedly sexually abusing women and trading sex and sexual favors for favorable police treatment, appeared in court Tuesday for jury selection.
Bendawald is accused of violating at least seven women’s civil rights and abusing his position as a law enforcement officer between at least 2017 and 2021 while he was an officer with the Caldwell Police Department.
A few of the charges against the former Caldwell police sergeant were dropped. Prosecutors requested to dismiss two of the counts on Sept. 1 because one of the seven alleged victims is struggling with her mental health and finances. According to the charges the judge read aloud in court on Tuesday, Bendawald is now charged with two counts of deprivation of rights under color of law and three counts of federal program bribery…