Man sentenced to 20 years in prison for lewd conduct

COEUR d'ALENE - A 71-year-old Post Falls man was sentenced to serve 20 years in prison for lewd conduct with a minor under 16, the Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney's Office said.

Donald B. Russell was sentenced by 1st District Court Judge Lansing L. Haynes, who ordered that five years of the sentence would be fixed.

Russell was charged after an investigation by the Post Falls Police Department revealed that Russell had engaged in sexual conduct with a child.

He was alleged to have had engaged in similar conduct with another child more than 30 years ago, though he had no criminal history.

"The long sentence imposed by Judge Haynes is justified by the nature of this crime, Mr. Russell's history, and the failure by Mr. Russell to accept the serious nature of the offense," said Barry McHugh, Kootenai County prosecutor.

McHugh added, "Mr. Russell's need for long-term treatment will be started while in prison, and continued if and when he is released."