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Post Falls man charged with sexual battery on girls between 5 and 15 years old

by RALPH BARTHOLDT
Staff Writer | May 30, 2020 1:05 AM

A 58-year-old Post Falls man who was charged with sexual conduct with minors paid $200,000 bail before his first appearance in First District magistrate court and was released from jail.

Terry G. Rutledge was charged with two felony counts of sexual abuse of a child after the father of two girls reported the incident to Kootenai County investigators.

According to charging documents, Rutledge repeatedly told two girls who were between 5 years old and 15 years old, that he wanted to have sex with them and he allegedly fondled them.

The charges stem from incidents that happened between 2008 and 2019, according to court records.

Rutledge, who posted bail May 18, will have his initial court appearance in July in felony magistrate court.

According to police reports, Rutledge is accused of making sexual contact with the girls, and making sexual advances over the 10-year-period that ended when the minors left Idaho.

Deputies said that one of the girls’ family members recorded a conversation in which Rutledge admits to “inappropriate touching,” but Rutledge denied having admitted to anything.

Rutledge told investigators he would “tap that,” regarding one of the girls, but he denied the other allegations, according to a police report.

Sexual abuse of a child carries a 25-year prison sentence.