Man faces life in prison

COEUR d'ALENE - A Coeur d'Alene man accused of multiple instances of rape involving an underage relative is facing a possible sentence of life in prison.

Ryan Langford, 26, was initially charged - after his October 2014 arrest - with seven felony counts of rape and one felony count of sexual abuse of a minor younger than 16. Last month, Langford entered a plea agreement with the Kootenai County prosecutor's office. Under the agreement, Langford pleaded guilty to two felony counts of rape and entered an Alford plea - a plea where the defendant maintains their innocence but admits that the state has enough evidence for a conviction - to the sexual abuse charge.

Kootenai County Prosecutor Barry McHugh told The Press the seven counts of rape all stem from actions alleged to have occurred in December 2013. Each rape charge carries a potential life sentence. Conceding five counts of rape in exchange for a guilty plea assures that Langford will be punished, McHugh said, and does not hinder the prosecutor's ability to advocate for the maximum sentence.

McHugh added that the decision "is an appropriate exercise of our discretion, and gives up nothing in terms of an appropriate sentence that protects the community from further criminal conduct."

After learning of Langford's ongoing criminal actions with the teen and an incident with the teen's sister, the victim's grandmother filed a report with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare in October of 2014. That report was forwarded to Coeur d'Alene Police Department detectives. Soon after launching an investigation of the allegations, detectives interviewed Langford at his Coeur d'Alene home.

According to a report from one of the detectives, Langford eventually admitted to having sex with his teenage relative. Langford reportedly told the investigators that the teen instigated the sex. A detective responded by asking Langford who the adult was in the situation. According to the report, the man told the detectives he was the adult and responsible for the actions.

He was then arrested and charged with seven counts of rape in connection to his actions with the teen and charged with one count of sexual abuse of a child younger than 16 for the incident between him and the teen's sister.

If Langford is granted parole, or is given a sentence short of life in prison, McHugh said the man will have to register as a sex offender. He will also be considered a "persistent violator" and face a minimum of five years in state prison if he is ever convicted of another felony.

Langford will be sentenced by Judge Rich Christensen Feb. 20 in Kootenai County District Court.