COEUR d'ALENE - A Post Falls man was sentenced Tuesday to spend as long as life in prison for lewd conduct with a child, the Kootenai County Prosecutor's Office announced.

Patrick J. Bailey, 51, was sentenced by 1st District Judge John Mitchell, who ordered that the first seven years be mandatory, with the remainder of the sentence being indeterminate. Bailey was given credit for time served.

On Jan. 20, Bailey pleaded guilty to one count of lewd conduct, while four other similar counts were dismissed in a pretrial settlement deal with prosecutors.

Bailey admitted to touching "and/or rubbing the genital area of a 10-year-old child, or had the child touch his penis with the intent to gratify Bailey's sexual desire," the prosecutor's office said in a news release.

The lewd conduct charge is related to conduct with his daughter, who is autistic and cannot communicate verbally.

The investigation revealed similar conduct had occurred on at least four other occasions, the prosecutor's office said.

Bailey has prior convictions for burglary, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, disturbing the peace, assault and driving offenses.

"I don't know how any human being could do this to their own child," Mitchell said.

The judge said he is convinced Bailey waited for his wife and son to leave their home so he could abuse his daughter.

"I can't imagine in the 13 years that I've been a district judge seeing more disturbing facts than what are in this (case)," Mitchell said. "You have damaged (her) forever."

Anything less than the prison sentence "would send a message to every person with a sick mind such as yours that it is acceptable to do this and the only punishment that you will face is up to 365 days in a prison treatment facility," Mitchell said. "Society can't tolerate that."

Kootenai County Prosecutor Barry McHugh praised the Post Falls Police Department and deputy prosecutor Art Verharen, who handled the case.

"This was a very disturbing case involving a vulnerable child and highly offensive conduct," McHugh said. "The fixed term guarantees that our community will be safe from similar conduct by Mr. Bailey for at least seven years, and even then only after he has been determined by the bureau of corrections to be someone who can live in the community without re-offending."