SANDPOINT — A man serving a year-long retained jurisdiction for committing injury to an underage girl will soon be transferred out of the program due to poor behavior. 

Rowan Ramsey, 21, appeared via Zoom April 21 for a jurisdictional review hearing, where the court reviewed an Idaho Department of Corrections request to relinquish jurisdiction of Ramsey following “horrible” behaviors.  

Under a retained jurisdiction program, or rider, an inmate is incarcerated in an IDOC facility but is under the judge's jurisdiction to receive treatment and programming. Upon successful completion of the rider, a resident can be placed on probation. If unsuccessful, a judge can relinquish jurisdiction and sentence them to prison based on their behavior.  

District Court Judge Lamont Berecz followed the request of IDOC after noting that the report was one of the worst ones he has read. 

“This is a very discouraging report to read,” Berecz said. “I’ve been reading these for 20-plus years, and this is the top five worst reads.”  

In following that statement, Berecz outlined Ramsey’s reported actions, indicating Ramsey’s pleasure with actions of tormenting other residents, going out of his way to sabotage himself and others.  

Berecz indicated that it’s rare for IDOC to request the relinquishment of jurisdiction, but felt it was necessary so that Ramsey would not inhibit others from failing their rider program.  

“This is a deep-seated issue that goes beyond what the rider program can do. I would love to chalk it up to age, but I believe it’s deeper rooted than that,” Berecz said.  

Prosecutor Louis Marshall gave similar sentiments, noting that the rider was a “large break by the state and court” and that he agreed with IDOC’s recommendation to remove the rider.  

In being given a chance to speak, Ramsey acknowledged his mistakes, stating that he “thoroughly apologized for not taking advantage of the program” and “didn’t enter the program with his head straight.”  

When sentenced for one count of injury to child, Ramsey was given an underlying sentence of seven years in prison — three years determinate and four years indeterminate. He will be given credit for 420 days.  

The sentence stems from incidents in early 2025, where Ramsey pleaded guilty to providing alcohol to a minor, in which she consumed and became unconscious, and was later assaulted by Brandon Veach, 21, who was sentenced near the same time as Ramsey.  

Law enforcement became aware of the crime by way of a 911 call after several eyewitnesses alleged seeing Veach assault the victim while she was unconscious. Documents indicate that the victim had consumed a large amount of liquor — which was provided by Ramsey — before the incident.   

Reports suggest that Ramsey was not seen during the time of the assault, but was with Veach and the girl beforehand, pressuring her to drink alcohol that the pair had provided. At the time of the crime, Veach was the only one above the legal drinking age of 21.   

A probable cause affidavit reports that Veach and Ramsey fled the crime scene after learning that law enforcement was notified of the incident.   

Both men ultimately entered a guilty plea on the injury to child charges — Ramsey for supplying substances that would place the victim in great bodily harm and Veach for assaulting the victim while unconscious.  

Anyone who suspects sexual abuse should contact the Bonner County sexual abuse 24/7 helpline at 208-265-3586. For an alternate helpline, call 208-263-6714.