Judge Rejects Appeal Bid, Trial Stays on Track
A Shoshone County man facing serious felony charges related to child abuse will stand trial this summer after a district judge refused to grant him either an interlocutory appeal or additional time to delay the proceedings.
Judge Regina McCrea issued rulings denying both requests from 39-year-old Anthony Thomas Banker, who is charged with five counts of felony injury to a child and a single count of destroying, altering, or concealing evidence. The charges were brought in June 2025, with investigators alleging the abuse took place inside Banker’s home. According to authorities, digital evidence — including videos and messages — was recovered that documented harm to the child.
A jury trial is now set for August 24, 2026.
Co-Defendant Has Pleaded Guilty, Will Testify for Prosecution
Banker was not the only person charged in connection with the alleged abuse. Co-defendant Sage Bryant resolved her portion of the case by entering a guilty plea to felony injury to a child. Following sentencing, Bryant agreed as part of her resolution to take the stand and testify against Banker when the case reaches trial.
That testimony could prove significant for prosecutors, giving them a witness with direct knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the alleged offenses.
Defense Challenges Turned Away at Every Turn
Banker’s attorneys have repeatedly attempted to interrupt the forward progress of the case. Earlier in the proceedings, the defense filed a motion seeking dismissal of several counts, arguing that testimony and evidence presented at the preliminary hearing fell short of establishing probable cause. Judge McCrea denied that motion.
The defense then asked the court to reconsider that ruling and to remove certain language from the charging document. That request was similarly denied. When Banker pursued an interlocutory appeal — a mechanism that allows certain legal questions to be reviewed by a higher court before trial — Judge McCrea rejected that avenue as well. The judge concluded that the issues Banker raised do not satisfy the threshold Idaho law sets for interlocutory review, and further determined that controlling Idaho case law has already resolved the legal questions at issue. The preliminary hearing record, the judge found, adequately supports the probable cause determination.
A motion to suspend proceedings while the appeal question was sorted out was also turned down, leaving no procedural obstacle standing between Banker and his August court date.
Prosecutor Emphasizes Importance of Moving Forward
Shoshone County Deputy Prosecutor Britney Jacobs underscored why her office works to prevent unnecessary delays in cases like this one. “The delay in the court process tends to affect the victims of crimes the most,” Jacobs said, “which is why we try to keep matters of this nature moving through the system as expeditiously as possible.”
Her comments reflect a broader principle that courts and prosecutors across Idaho have long recognized: extended timelines in child welfare cases can deepen the hardship experienced by victims and their families, prolonging uncertainty at an already difficult time. Keeping the case moving serves not only the interests of justice but the well-being of those most directly affected by the alleged conduct.
With Judge McCrea’s rulings now in place, the case appears positioned to proceed without further interruption barring any new pretrial filings from either side. Any additional motions would face scrutiny in light of the string of denials already on the record.
What Comes Next
Anthony Thomas Banker is scheduled to appear before a Shoshone County jury on August 24, 2026, to answer six felony counts stemming from allegations of child abuse at his residence. Co-defendant Sage Bryant, who has already been sentenced, is anticipated to testify on behalf of the prosecution. The Silver Valley community will be watching closely as the case moves toward resolution. Judge McCrea will oversee any remaining pretrial matters in the weeks ahead.
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