COEUR d’ALENE — A Post Falls man who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing two children will spend up to 30 years in prison. 

Derek J. Thomson, 29, pleaded guilty in January to lewd conduct with a minor under the age of 16, a felony punishable by up to life in prison. Prosecutors said Thomson “engaged in sexual contact” with two children between September 2018 and September 2023. The children were between the ages of 2 and 8 years old at the time of the abuse. 

First District Judge Barry McHugh sentenced Thomson last week to 30 years in prison, with parole eligibility after 10 years. 

“The Kootenai County Prosecutor’s Office supports victims of crime, particularly young children who have been abused by the hands of a trusted adult,” Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney Stan Mortensen said in a news release. “This type of conduct is among the worst in society and we appreciate all who work to protect children.”