Jury Convicts Man Of Abusing Runaway

After deliberating for nine hours, a Coeur d’Alene jury convicted a 22-year-old man of sexually abusing a 15-year-old runaway girl.

Alan T. Brown, formerly of Clarkston, Wash., was convicted of four counts of lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor and three counts of sexually abusing a child. Brown is being held at the Kootenai County Jail in lieu of $70,000 bond. No sentencing date has been set.

Brown was arrested in December and eventually charged with nine counts of rape. He was convicted Saturday of the lesser abuse charges, which carry a maximum penalty of more than three life terms in prison.

“The Kootenai County prosecutor’s office will not allow children to be taken advantage of and abused,” said Deputy Prosecutor Rick Baughman. “This is a strong verdict for the state of Idaho and the citizens of Kootenai County.”

Baughman said Brown befriended the Kootenai County runaway, gave her drugs and alcohol and began abusing her sexually and physically.

“He pumped countless hits of crank (methamphetamine) into her,” said Baughman. “She went days without sleep or food.”

He said the girl has gone through extensive counseling.

, DataTimes