CANYON COUNTY, idaho — Brian Sangjoon Lee has been released on probation after he served a nine-months.
He was arrested in August 2021 after deputies located him at a hotel with an eleven-year-old Nampa girl. In March 2022, Lee pleaded guilty to felony second-degree kidnapping and was ordered to register as a sex offender with zero contact with the victim or any minor children for twenty years.
On May 24th, 2022, Lee had a sentence hearing where prosecutors recommended the judge impose a prison sentence of five years fixed, followed by fifteen years indetermined. Instead, Judge Grove sentenced Lee to two years fixed, followed by eight years indeterminate, but retained jurisdiction and placed him on a rider.
During Lee's rider review hearing on January 23, 2023, Judge Grove placed him on five years of probation.
Sheriff Kieran Donahue from Canyon County shared a statement regarding the judge's decision on his release.
“Yesterday’s decision by the judge to release Lee to five years of probation is beyond comprehension. This was an adult male who preyed upon a pre-teen girl through an online video game chat and eventually over the phone. After months of grooming this young girl, he then traveled across state lines to pick her up and take her back to California with him, where he had a special room prepared for her to live in at his parent’s house. It’s hard to believe he had her best intentions in mind, especially since he encouraged her to delete her cell phone records and leave her phone behind to help conceal her whereabouts. Despite his best efforts, my detectives were able to locate him and the girl at a local hotel before they made the trip to California, and he was taken into custody. I fully believe my officers’ actions helped save this young girl’s life. That is why it is so frustrating to see him be released on probation. Law enforcement did its job. The prosecutors did their job. Everyone in the justice system should have the victim’s well-being foremost in their minds, especially when it comes to protecting children. This man is a threat to society with a proven track record of preying on young girls. This sentencing sends the wrong message to perpetrators of crimes against children. This man belongs behind bars. - Sheriff Donahue”ncG1vNJzZmihlJa1sLrEsKpnm5%2BifK%2Bx1qxmpaeTlrlwrsSypqecXZi8rrzRnp%2BepqOevK95wpqlsqeeYrCwedKhnKuhlpt6s7HAnKusZaSkerOxy56YrJ1dpLNus8iro6xlm56xr63PqZyr