A Coeur d’Alene man was sentenced Friday to 15 years in federal prison for attempted sexual exploitation of a child, the culmination of a joint investigation by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office that began when agents identified the defendant engaging in explicit online communications with a person he believed to be a 14-year-old. U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced the sentence, calling it “a clear message that the federal government and local law enforcement will aggressively prosecute those who prey on Idaho’s children.”
David Allen Foster, 41, was arrested in August 2025 after arranging to meet the purported minor at a public location in Coeur d’Alene. The individual he had been communicating with was actually an undercover agent participating in a national online exploitation sting operation coordinated by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Foster’s communications, which spanned several weeks, included explicit images and detailed plans to engage in sexual activity with the individual he believed to be a child.
The Investigation and National Task Force
The case originated through the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, a national network of 61 coordinated task forces that investigate child exploitation crimes involving technology. The Idaho ICAC Task Force, housed within the Idaho State Police, works with federal partners and local agencies including the KCSO to identify and apprehend individuals who use the internet to exploit children.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Ryan Harkins said Foster’s case is representative of a growing category of online exploitation cases in which adults use social media, messaging apps, and gaming platforms to contact minors. “The internet has given predators unprecedented access to children,” Harkins said. “Our job is to make them believe they’re talking to a child when they’re actually talking to a trained investigator.”
The KCSO’s role in the investigation included surveillance, arrest logistics, and forensic analysis of Foster’s electronic devices, which yielded additional evidence of exploitation-related activity. KCSO Detective Sarah Chen, who participated in the operation, said the agency has invested in specialized training for digital forensics to support the growing number of technology-facilitated child exploitation cases in Kootenai County.
Sentencing and Implications
U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill imposed the 15-year sentence following a presentence investigation that evaluated Foster’s criminal history, the severity of the offense, and the risk of recidivism. The sentence also includes 10 years of supervised release following imprisonment, during which Foster will be subject to strict conditions including GPS monitoring, restrictions on internet access, and prohibition from contact with minors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Syrena Hargrove, who prosecuted the case, argued for the maximum sentence, citing the deliberate and premeditated nature of Foster’s actions. “This defendant didn’t stumble into this situation,” Hargrove told the court. “He systematically groomed what he believed was a child over weeks, sent explicit material, and traveled to meet the child with the intent to engage in criminal sexual conduct.”
Protecting Children in Kootenai County
The case underscores the importance of parental vigilance regarding children’s online activities. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children recommends that parents maintain open conversations with children about online safety, monitor social media and messaging activity, and report any suspicious contact to the CyberTipline at missingkids.org or by calling 1-800-843-5678.
The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office encourages residents who suspect online exploitation of a child to contact the KCSO tip line at 208-446-1300 or report directly to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov.
What Comes Next
Foster has been remanded to federal custody and will be designated to a federal prison facility by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The Idaho ICAC Task Force continues to conduct proactive online investigations targeting individuals who seek to exploit children. Parents and educators interested in internet safety resources can visit icactaskforce.org or contact the Idaho State Police ICAC unit at 208-884-7090.