Man sentenced in lewd conduct case

SANDPOINT – A Bonner County man will serve 58 days in jail followed by a two-to five-year suspended sentence for a count of lewd conduct from 2017.

Ryan Nathaniel Greene, 22, entered an Alford guilty plea to a count of lewd conduct with a minor child under 16 on June 8. The Alford plea is a part of a Rule 11 plea agreement reached by both the prosecution and defense.

A Rule 11 agreement means that if the judge chooses not to follow the agreement, the defendant can withdraw their guilty plea. An Alford plea is where the defendant acknowledges that a jury has enough evidence to find them guilty, but maintains that they are innocent.

Greene assaulted the victim while he was 17, a juvenile. The case was waived into adult court in 2020 when Greene was 21.

According to the victim’s statements in court documents, Greene would assault her multiple times a week, but this case centers on one incident where Greene assaulted the victim when she was pregnant, causing her to give birth prematurely.

The victim did not tell the doctors about the assault, because Greene told her “something bad would happen” if she did, according to court documents.

The assault happened while Greene was awaiting sentencing for a different lewd conduct charge that happened in 2016 involving another minor under 16. An additional kidnapping charge in that case was dropped.

Because the 2016 case is in the juvenile court system, most of the information remains under seal. Greene received a three- to seven-year sentence, the maximum that can be given in Idaho juvenile court. During his incarceration, he completed court ordered rehabilitation programs, and was released on parole in December 2018. However, Greene will remain on probation until 2024.

Both the prosecution and defense asked First District Judge Barbara Buchanan to impose a two-to five-year suspended sentence with 60 days local jail, as per the agreement.

“Mr.Greene, I understand you don’t want to serve jail, there has to be consequences,” Buchanan said.

Greene was sentenced to 60 days in jail, with two days credit for time already served. After, Greene will begin three years of probation to run concurrent with the probation he is currently serving for the 2016 assault case. He was ordered to turn himself into the jail on Wednesday, pay $545 in court costs, reimburse the county for evaluation costs, and register as a sex offender.

There are many resources for victims of sexual assault in Bonner County. Two local resources that can be reached 24/7 is LillyBrooke Family Justice Center at 208-265-3586, and the Bonner County Sheriff’s Department at 208-265-5525. In a timely emergency, call 911.

There is no statute of limitations for victims to come forward in sexual assault cases involving minors.