Boise veterinarian faces up to life in prison after admitting lewd conduct with child

Aug. 14--A 47-year-old Boise veterinarian accused of molesting a young girl for nine years, starting when she was 5, has reached a plea deal with prosecutors, according to court records.

Dr. Craig D. Maloney pleaded guilty to one count of lewd conduct with a minor child under 16 on Aug. 9. He admitted in court to touching private parts of the child's body for sexual gratification on dozens of occasions at his Meridian home.

In exchange for his plea, Ada County prosecutors dismissed nine other felony charges against him, including five counts of sexual abuse of a child under the age of 16 and four counts of lewd conduct with a minor child under 16.

City prosecutors also agreed to drop a misdemeanor charge of violating a no contact order. He was accused of coming within 500 feet of the child he abused while attending his child's graduation at Taco Bell Arena in May.

Maloney agreed to submit to a psychosexual evaluation and to abide by a no contact order prohibiting from ever making contact with the victim again.

He pleaded guilty to lewd conduct Thursday at what was supposed to be a pre-trial conference.

He faces up to life in prison and a fine of up to $25,000. At his sentencing in October, the prosecutor and defense will present arguments to the judge for what Maloney's punishment should be -- but the judge can impose whatever sentence he deems appropriate, regardless of the plea deal that Maloney reached with prosecutors. The judge is not bound by that agreement.

Meridian Police investigators said they found evidence to indicate that the victim was 5 years old when the abuse began in 2008, and it continued through 2017. The child disclosed the abuse to her father, who contacted police in December.

In court Thursday, Maloney confessed to molesting the child "several dozen times, probably" between Jan. 1, 2012, and Dec. 31, 2013, according to court records. The child was 9 to 10 years old at that time.

"And why were you doing this?" Judge Samuel Hoagland asked.

"For my own base desires, your honor," Maloney said.

Maloney's two Boise veterinary hospitals -- Orchard Animal Hospital, 110 N. Orchard St., and Mountain View Animal Hospital, 3435 N. Cole Road -- have both closed permanently, according to signs on their doors. Weeds have grown tall around the entrance to both buildings. Both businesses filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy in June, federal court records show.

Maloney has been in and out of jail since he was charged March 8. He posted $50,000 bond after the felony charges, and $10,000 bond after he was charged for allegedly violating the no contact order. Prosecutors filed a motion to revoke bond in the original case due to the alleged violation of the no contact order. Hoagland opted to increase Maloney's bond from $50,000 to $75,000; Maloney posted bond and was released. He remains free on bond.

Maloney is scheduled to be sentenced at 3 p.m.Oct. 23 before Hoagland at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise.

Katy Moeller: 208-377-6413

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