SANDPOINT — A Clark Fork man who pleaded guilty to repeatedly molesting a minor in Bonner County was sentenced Thursday to life in prison.

Joshua James Olson will have to serve 10 years of the sentence before he can be considered for parole under the terms of the sentence imposed by 1st District Judge Barbara Buchanan.

“This is one of the most horrendous cases of abuse that this court has seen,” Buchanan said.

Olson, 28, was charged with lewd and lascivious conduct and sexual exploitation of a child because he allegedly shot pictures and video images of the abuse.

Bonner County sheriff’s investigators and FBI agents searched Olson’s home on Washington Water Power Housing Road last spring, after receiving a tip that he was sharing the child pornography over the Internet. Olson, according to a probable cause affidavit, turned over a flash memory drive which held 24 videos and 67 still images of the victim.

The abuse occurred over a three-year period until his arrest earlier this year, when the victim was between the ages of 5 and 7 years old.

Olson pleaded guilty to lewd conduct at his arraignment. In exchange for the plea, the state dismissed the sexual exploitation charge, court records indicate. However, that offense could be revived as a federal offense to be prosecuted in U.S. District Court.

Bonner County Prosecutor Louis Marshall recommended a sentence of 20 years to life.

“The damage to children because of this type of abuse is tremendous. It’s lifelong,” said Marshall. “That is the chief reason why the state is seeking a sentence of 20-to-life.”

Marshall added that such a sentence would protect society and demonstrate there are severe consequences for engaging in such behavior.

Deputy Public Defender Dan Taylor emphasized that Olson took responsibility for his actions and urged a fixed three-year term and a lengthy term of indeterminate prison time with access to sex offender treatment programs.

“Not in any way is my client trying to downplay what he did. I just ask the court to remember there’s another side to him,” said Taylor, referring to Olson’s stable upbringing and gainful employment prior to his arrest.

Olson agreed that a prison sentence was in order and expressed optimism that sexual offender treatment would prevent him from being a threat in the future.

“I’m terribly sorry to my victim for what I’ve done and I understand I’ve affected her for the rest of her life,” said Olson.

Buchanan imposed a sentence of 10-to-life due to the repetitive nature of the offenses, the betrayal of trust and the likely lasting damage to the victim.

“I don’t know that this little girl will ever be able to recover, and I hope and pray that she will,” Buchanan said.