Vernon sentenced on statutory rape charges

COEUR d’ALENE — The former volunteer for a Post Falls church who pleaded guilty to three counts of statutory rape could be eligible for parole in six months.

Jordan C. Vernon, 20, was sentenced to up to 18 years in prison for the three counts in 1st District Court on Thursday, but Judge John Mitchell retained jurisdiction on the case, meaning Vernon will spend six months with the Department of Corrections in Cottonwood before appearing in front of Mitchell again for the possibility of parole.

“You’re going to have a lot of convincing for me not to have you serve the rest of that sentence,” Mitchell told Vernon in court.

Vernon’s behavior and rehabilitation progress in Cottonwood needs to be “flawless,” Mitchell said, otherwise the judge would impose the rest of the prison sentence.

That sentence calls for six of the 18 years to be fixed, meaning Vernon wouldn’t be eligible for parole until those first six years are served.

“I don’t know how long it’s going to take to get over this, but I don’t think that’s enough time for what he’s done,” said Trina Rossmiller, the mother of one of the victims, on the possibility for parole after 180 days.

Her daughter was 17 at the time of the statutory rape.

“It’s her high school years, she can’t get those back,” Rossmiller said after the ruling. “I think it’s only fair he loses some time, too.”

Vernon was arrested in December 2009, on a number of sexual abuse charges with minors, at one time facing several different charges. He later pleaded guilty to three counts involving three minors, one of whom was 14 years old.

Mitchell, who left restitution for the victims open, said Vernon used Real Life Ministries in Post Falls to meet “and groom” his victims and that showed a deliberate course of action.

The multiple encounters with the victims spanned over several weeks.

In the case of the 14-year-old victim, Vernon posted pictures of her performing sexual acts on the Internet.

“I don’t buy that,” Mitchell said of defense attorney John Redal’s argument that Vernon was immature, making immature decisions.

“You knew what you were doing to all these people,” Mitchell told Vernon.

Vernon addressed the court before the sentence, apologizing to the victims and their families and vowing to use his religious faith and family support to help him change his lifestyle.

“If given the chance, I’d make better decisions,” he said, choked up. “With (my family’s) support I feel like I can accomplish anything.”

Vernon’s family declined to comment following the ruling.

“I hope he gets a little more time,” Rossmiller said.