Former WSU prof gets up to 5 years in assault case

MOSCOW, Idaho — A former Washington State University professor has been sentenced to up to five years in prison for felony injury to a child after prosecutors said he sexually assaulted a teen in Idaho. Fifty-two-year-old Andrew Appleton was sentenced to one to five years in prison on Monday. But 2nd District Judge John Stegner retained jurisdiction in the case, telling Appleton that if he successfully completes a six-month prison treatment program, he may be allowed to serve the remainder of his time on probation. Prosecutors charged Appleton with felony rape because they said he sexually assaulted a teenager for a year starting when she was 16. The charge was reduced in exchange for his guilty plea. Appleton was removed from his job as an associate professor of political science after his arrest.