Rape suspect incarcerated

SANDPOINT — A Priest River teen accused of a raping another teen was ordered on Tuesday imprisoned up to his 21st birthday, according to 1st District Court records.

Ryan Nathaniel Greene was prosecuted as an adult for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl at his home in June 2015. The charges didn’t come to light until the following year, however.

Greene, who was 16 at the time of the alleged offense, admitted to Priest River Police that he had sex with the girl, but insisted the encounter was consensual. However, the teen testified during a preliminary hearing that she rebuffed Greene’s advances, but he held her down and forced himself on her despite repeatedly telling him “no.”

Greene was also charged with kidnapping for allegedly holding the teen against her will, although that offense was dismissed after a judge ruled there was insufficient evidence to sustain the charge.

Greene, now 18, was ordered to stand trial, but entered into a pretrial settlement agreement which amended the rape charge to lewd conduct, court records show.

First District Judge Barbara Buchanan imposed a three- to seven-year term, but suspended it and ordered Greene into the custody of the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections. His incarceration is not to exceed his 21st birthday, according to court documents.

Upon satisfaction of his custodial sentence, the court will conduct a review hearing to determine if Greene should be released onto probation or committed to the custody of the adult Idaho Department of Correction.

Buchanan ruled that Greene was a juvenile when the offense was committed and that adult sentencing measures were inappropriate, court records indicate.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.