Twin Falls man who hid in girl's bedroom sentenced to prison

TWIN FALLS -- Kaden O. Skinner, a 23-year-old homeless man, was sentenced to at least five years in prison after evading law enforcement for 10 months following a warrant for the alleged rape of a 16-year-old girl. Prosecutors revealed that Skinner spent significant time living in the girl's bedroom throughout 2023, taking measures to hide his presence from her relatives, which included leaving bottles of urine in the room, described as a “pig sty” by Deputy Prosecutor Suzanne Ehlers.

During the relationship, Skinner manipulated the girl, deploying tactics such as suicidal threats and persistent messaging to maintain control over her. When temperatures dropped in November 2023, he convinced her to let him return to her home, claiming his survival in the cold depended on her. Although her relatives were aware of Skinner's presence, they misunderstood his age, believing he was 18, which contributed to a lack of proper supervision.

Skinner's arrest was prompted by a report from a homeless man who witnessed him kissing a 15-year-old girl. Police located Skinner in a tent with the girl shortly after the report. Initially, he faced multiple charges, but a plea deal led to a guilty plea for one count of rape, with other charges being dropped.

Ehlers argued for a substantial prison sentence, citing the severity of the evidence against Skinner. She recommended a fixed seven-year sentence with an additional seven years indeterminate. In contrast, defense attorney Richard Henry suggested that the court consider Skinner's youth and potential for rehabilitation, proposing a less severe sentence with retained jurisdiction.

Ultimately, District Judge Ben Cluff sentenced Skinner to five years fixed and nine years indeterminate, with credit for time served, following the evidence presented during the case. Skinner had been held on a bond of $150,000 leading up to the sentencing.