COEUR d'ALENE - A 38-year-old North Idaho firefighter pleaded guilty Monday to having sex with a junior-high age girl in 2009 and 2010.

Billy E. Miller Jr., of Athol, who had been working as a lieutenant for Northern Lakes Fire District, appeared before 1st District Court Judge John Luster to enter his plea.

He is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 17 on the charge of lewd conduct with a child under 16 years old, a charge that carries a maximum life prison sentence.

Three other related felony counts were dismissed as part of a plea deal his attorney, Brad Chapman, negotiated with the Kootenai County prosecutor's office.

Miller was terminated by the fire district on May 24, after leadership had received enough information from criminal investigators, said Jim Lyon, a spokesman for the district.

"It came as a surprise to all members of the department," Lyon said Monday. "Certainly our sympathies go out to the (victim's) family."

Miller has been held at Kootenai County jail since being arrested in early May.

The conduct occurred at his home on the 26000 block of North Harrier Lane.

Miller, according to a Kootenai County Sheriff's Department investigation report, admitted having sex with the girl, saying he used a condom to prevent a pregnancy. He also admitted to receiving oral sex from the girl, who was 13 and 14 years old at the time.