Man gets 5 years to life for sex abuse

A Coeur d'Alene man will spend five years to life in prison for lewd conduct with a 14-year-old girl, a judge ruled this week.

Nicholas James Ryan, 32, was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison with eligibility for parole after five years. He'll serve the sentence the same time as a sentence for contacting the girl after his arrest despite a court order prohibiting the communication.

Ryan was sentenced by Kootenai County District Judge John Mitchell. He pleaded guilty on Oct. 31. He has three prior felony convictions for drugs, according to the Kootenai County Prosecutor's Office.
In a prepared statement, Prosecutor Barry McHugh praised the work of the Coeur 'Alene Police Department and Deputy Prosecutor Josh Studor.

McHugh said the sentence “was appropriate given the defendant's post-arrest conduct indicating a desire to continue an illegal and immoral relationship, and his efforts to coerce the victim to lie about the relationship.”