Prison ordered in teen sex case

SANDPOINT - Jurisdiction was retained Monday for a Bonner County man convicted of having sex with an underage girl several years ago.

Harold Lee Anderson was sentenced to serve 2-5 years in prison, but with jurisdiction retained, he could be released onto probation after serving six months of the sentence.

Anderson was originally charged with two counts of lewd conduct with a minor, but the charges were boiled down to a single count of felony assault via plea negotiations.

Anderson, 30, had repeated sexual encounters with a 13-year-old girl during the winter of 2005, according to charging papers.

A doctor who conducted a psychosexual evaluation of Anderson recommended he undergo outpatient sexual offender counseling and listed his risk factor as "moderate," court records said. Anderson's defense attorney, Glen Walker, chalked his client's conduct up to poor judgment and said Anderson was not a predator.

District Judge Steve Verby also ordered Anderson to perform 300 hours of community service and pay the parents of the victim $548, court documents indicate.

A progress hearing will be held in six months to determine if Anderson should remain in prison.