Idaho Zoo Worked Charged for Sex Crime

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (AP) — A former southeast Idaho zookeeper accused of abusing a young zoo volunteer has been charged with sexual battery of a child age 16 or 17 by lewd or lascivious acts.

Fifty-six-year-old Raymond Probert of Pocatello turned himself in Tuesday to Bonneville County sheriff's deputies to be booked and released to pretrial services. Police say Probert abused a girl who volunteered with the "Junior Zoo Crew" at Tautphaus Park Zoo in Idaho Falls.

Probert started working at the zoo in 1996. Parks and Recreation director Greg Weitzel says Probert was fired on Sept. 4. Probert faces up to life in prison if convicted.