Long prison term given to Coeur d’Alene sex offender who attacked co-worker

A Coeur d’Alene sex offender was sentenced Tuesday to 55 years in prison for an assault on a co-worker last fall.

Jason A. Edwards, 45, who worked at the Coeur d’Alene Press, was sentenced in 1st District Court for attempted kidnapping, battery with the intent to rape, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He pleaded guilty to the charges in April.

First District Judge Lansing Haynes followed the prosecutor’s recommendation of 30 years fixed plus up to 25 years more for what he called a “horrifying series of crimes.”

Edwards admitted to using a knife to try to abduct the 27-year-old woman, who was working an early shift at the newspaper on Nov. 1. He threatened to slit her throat as he held the knife to her, walked her to his van and attempted to open the van door, according to court records.

The victim told investigators she broke free and took the knife from Edwards, cutting his hand. She fled and locked herself inside the newspaper office.

The attack was “the stuff nightmares are made of,” said Kootenai County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney David Robins. The woman bears psychological scars and suffers from depression, and she had to quit her job, Robins said.

Edwards poses a significant threat to the public, he said. Robins noted that Edwards was convicted of molesting a neighbor’s 4-year-old child in 2008, and that efforts to rehabilitate him had failed.

Defense attorney Christopher Schwartz told the judge a fixed term of 20 years would give Edwards some hope for release one day and motivate his effort to seek treatment for alcohol abuse and sex urges.

“His hope is you will show some leniency,” Schwartz said.

Edwards read a brief statement taking responsibility for the crimes and apologizing to the victim and her family, who were seated in the courtroom. He said he was ashamed of his actions.