SANDPOINT — A Ponderay man who pleaded to drunkenly attacking a young woman and raping her is facing up to 10 years in prison.

Wiley Louis Lutkins was to be sentenced in 1st District Court on Monday, but Judge Barbara Buchanan continued the proceedings so he could undergo a psychosexual evaluation.

Lutkins, 26, is accused of attacking the woman at a Ponderay trailer park last June. The woman testified at a probable cause hearing that she was helping an intoxicated Lutkins tend to wounds he received while roughhousing with another person in the home.

While doing so, the woman testified, Lutkins punched her in the face and proceeded to sexually assault her. The woman told the court she attempted to fend off the attack, but was overpowered by Lutkins.

 Lutkins was originally charged with rape, although the charge was amended to aggravated battery through plea negotiations. Lutkins entered an Alford plea to the reduced charge. Under that provision of law, Lutkins does not acknowledge  guilt but concedes the prosecution has enough evidence to gain a conviction.

An Alford plea is regarded no differently than a plea of guilt at sentencing.

The Idaho Department of Correction is recommending the court retain jurisdiction over Lutkins, which would make him eligible or parole after a year of imprisonment.

Bonner County Prosecutor Louis Marshall respectfully disagreed with the IDOC recommendation and said he is seeking a two- to 10-year term.

Lutkins acknowledged on Monday that he has drug and alcohol problems, but Marshall said that’s not the conduct that brought Lutkins to court.

“We are here today because he committed a violent attack on a young woman,’ said Marshall.

Marshall said the public can have a dim view of plea agreements, although he said a pact was apt because there were problematic aspects of the case, which included a lag time between the offense and when it was reported, and a number of witnesses who were expected to testify in favor of Lutkins and against the victim.

Although Marshall said those witnesses have criminal histories and shaky credibility, it still would have been difficult to convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt that Lutkins was guilty of rape.

Marshall praised the victim for her bravery in coming forward and read her written statement into the record. In it, the woman said she is now grappling with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. She also lost friends and wages, and suffers from “horrid nightmares.”

The woman said she is working to resolve those issues.

“I will not let him or this define me,” the woman said in her statement.