A Post Falls man will spend at least five years in prison for sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl.

Terence William Turner, 39, (pictured) was sentenced Friday to 15 years in prison with eligibility for parole after five years for lewd conduct with a minor. He will receive credit for time served in the Kootenai County Jail, where he has been since his arrest in March.

Turner's previous criminal history includes only misdemeanor traffic offenses. Judge Lansing Haynes cited Turner's "use of violence" during the abuse when he sentenced Turner, according to the Kootenai County Prosecutor's Office.

Prosecutor Barry McHugh praised the Post Falls Police Department and Deputy Prosecutor Art Verharen.

McHugh said the sentence was "appropriate given the long-term nature of this unconscionable conduct, the lack of accountability by this defendant, and the continuing risk of predatory conduct by the defendant."

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