COEUR d'ALENE — Jason Edwards was sentenced to serve 55 years in prison for attempting to kidnap a co-worker at the Coeur d'Alene Press offices.

Edwards, 44, pleaded guilty Tuesday to three felony charges associated with the 2015 incident, and will be eligible for parole after 30 years.

Kootenai County Prosecutor Barry McHugh told The Press Wednesday that Kootenai County District Court Judge Lansing Haynes agreed with his office's recommendation for sentencing in the case, which McHugh said reflects concerns that Edwards will "continue to pose a danger to the community."

"It was also an appropriate punishment for this violent crime that didn’t end up any worse because the victim resisted," McHugh said. "The defendant’s criminal history, which included convictions for molesting a 4-year-old neighbor, and the conduct underlying these offenses, gave the judge every reason to believe the defendant will be a serious risk for similar conduct in the future."

In the early morning hours of Nov. 1, 2015, Edwards was arrested for attacking and attempting to kidnap another Coeur d'Alene Press employee. According to court records, Edwards' victim, a 27-year-old woman, was held at knifepoint and led to a nearby getaway van, where she was able to take Edwards' knife and escape.

The victim, according to court records, sliced Edwards' hand with the knife before returning to the Coeur d'Alene Press building and locking herself in the newsroom.

Edwards pleaded guilty to first degree kidnapping, battery with intent to commit rape, and aggravated assault. Originally Edwards was also charged with burglary and driving under the influence, but those charges were dropped as part of a plea deal with the prosecutor's office.