Man sentenced to 13 years for rape

COEUR d'ALENE - An Athol man was sentenced Tuesday to 13 years in state prison for statutory rape.

James Maurice Elkins, 37, was sentenced by District Judge Benjamin R. Simpson, who ordered the first three years of the sentence would be fixed, and the remaining 10 indeterminate, with credit for time served. Ellis was also ordered to pay $1,500 restitution.

Ellis pleaded guilty to the charge on Nov. 10, 2008.

"In determining that a prison sentence was appropriate in this matter, Judge Simpson distinguished Ellis's conduct from other similarly charged defendants because of the large difference in age between Ellis and his 16-year-old victim, and the unusual nature of his social Web site postings," said a press release from the Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.