Pocatello woman charged with felony sexual battery after allegedly grooming teenage girl

POCATELLO — A 28-year-old local woman has been charged with three felony counts of sexual battery of a minor child after police say she groomed and engaged in sexual contact with a teenage girl.

Deborah Luraine Journeau, of Pocatello, has been charged with three counts of sexual battery of a minor child, according to police and court records the Idaho State Journal recently obtained.

The investigation began in January after Pocatello police received a child protection report. Officers were assigned to look into allegations that Journeau had been supplying drugs and alcohol to minors and engaged in sexual contact with a teenage girl, police said.

According to police, the teenager’s mother became suspicious and went through her child’s phone, where she discovered the nature of the relationship. The mother told investigators she believed Journeau had initially attempted to pursue her romantically but then turned her attention toward the teenager and the her friends, police said.

The mother said the relationship began with Journeau giving the teenager rides but escalated to the teenager lying and sneaking around to spend time with Journeau, police said. The mother was aware Journeau had been providing drugs and alcohol to minors at her residence and stated she had come to believe Journeau was grooming her child, police said.

Pocatello police records show officers had responded to approximately seven calls for service involving Journeau and the teenager within a five-month span prior to the arrest. Among those calls, officers responded in January 2026 to unlock handcuffs that bound Journeau and the teenager together at the wrist, police said.

In February, officers conducted a welfare check after fielding a report that alleged Journeau had been supplying the teenager with drugs and alcohol, and that the teenager considered Journeau to be her girlfriend, police said.

In March, officers responded after Journeau allegedly entered the mother’s apartment without permission and struck her during a confrontation about the relationship, police said.

Detectives conducted an initial interview with the teenager in April, during which she initially minimized the relationship but ultimately admitted to mutual sexual touching with Journeau, police said. The teenager agreed to attend a formal forensic interview at a local child advocacy center to provide a full statement.

During the forensic interview, the teenager described two separate sexual encounters with Journeau, stating both she and Journeau had been intoxicated on alcohol during both incidents. The teenager described the physical relationship as having progressed from hugging, kissing and holding hands to sexual contact on two separate occasions, police said.

On May 7 when officers confronted Journeau with the teenager’s disclosures, she invoked her right to an attorney and declined to speak with police without counsel present, police said.

Journeau was subsequently arrested and transported to the Bannock County Jail in Pocatello.

She appeared before 6th District Magistrate Judge Ralph L. Savage for an arraignment hearing that same day, where her bond was set at $40,000.

Journeau posted the bond on Monday and was released from jail, court records show.

She is scheduled to appear in court again on May 20 for a preliminary hearing. Prosecutors will attempt to present sufficient evidence to elevate the case from magistrate to district court for trial.

Each of the sexual battery of a minor child charges Journeau faces carry a maximum penalty of up to life in prison and a fine of up to $50,000 if she is convicted.