Child Molester Sent To Prison For 5 To 15 Years

A Coeur d’Alene man will spend at least five years in prison for molesting a young girl, a judge ruled Monday.

William L. Bennett, 39, was convicted of felony sex abuse of a child. On Monday, Judge Gary Haman sentenced him to 15 years in prison.

Bennett will be eligible for parole after five years, the judge ordered.

Kootenai County prosecutors originally charged Bennett with three counts of lewd conduct with a child, plus the sex abuse charge.

He was accused of molesting two girls, ages 12 and 13, who were staying at his home.

At his preliminary hearing, one of the girls told the judge that Bennett gave her several wine coolers when she stayed at his home after running away.

He then molested her although she told him to stop, she testified.

Bennett was convicted only on the sex abuse charge. The lewd conduct charges were dismissed.