COEUR d'ALENE — A 40-year-old Coeur d'Alene man has been sentenced to serve up to 30 years in prison for lewd conduct with a minor under 16.

Damon E. Johnson was sentenced on Friday by District Judge Richard Christensen, who ordered the first 18 years of the sentence would be fixed and the remaining years would be indeterminate with credit for time served.

On Sept. 15, 2016, Johnson pleaded guilty to the lewd conduct charge and admitted he had sexual contact with an 8-year-old child. The investigation revealed the conduct had occurred three times over a three-month period, according to the Kootenai County Prosecutor's Office. Johnson has nine prior misdemeanor convictions and seven prior felony convictions, as well as a pending felony case in Bonner County.

His prior convictions include lewd conduct with a child under the age of 16, sexual abuse of a minor, DUI, violation of a domestic court order, custodial assault, attempt to elude, bail jumping and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Judge Christensen considered Johnson’s offense conduct and information that indicated Johnson was a high risk to reoffend.

Prosecuting Attorney Barry McHugh praised the work of the Coeur d’Alene Police Department and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Art Verharen, who prosecuted the case.

"The danger of this defendant reoffending is high," McHugh said. "He failed to take appropriate responsibility for his conduct. The sentence was appropriate given the nature of the offense and the chance of continuing predatory conduct by the defendant.

"The fixed term guarantees that our community will be safe from similar conduct by Mr. Johnson for at least 18 years, at which time the Parole Commission can evaluate his progress and the likelihood that he can successfully complete a period of parole without victimizing other children or the community in general."