La Pine man gets 100-year sentence for child sex abuse

A Deschutes County judge has sentenced a 35-year-old La Pine man to a 100-year prison term for the molestation of his girlfriend’s young daughter, who told family, police and the jury what had happened, prosecutors said.

Tuesday’s sentencing by Circuit Judge Michael Adler followed a jury’s Dec. 11 unanimous conviction of Brett Riddle on eight rape and sex abuse charges, after a four-day trial.

Riddle is not eligible for “good time” or any form of early release under the terms of his sentence, said Deputy District Attorney Van McIver.

Riddle was convicted of abusing the 4-year-old girl, crimes that began in April 2014 and continued until February of this year, said District Attorney John Hummel.

Hummel special thanks to the young victim, who he said showed strength well beyond her years for taking the stand and testifying against Riddle, thus ensuring he will never have the opportunity to harm another child.

“The atrocities suffered by this young child are almost unthinkable, so today is not a day to celebrate,” Hummel said in a statement issued after the jury’s conviction.

“But our community should be proud of the investigation conducted by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and the top-notch prosecution of the case led by deputy district attorneys Van McIver and Stacy Neil and supported by the entire DA’s office.”

The jury convicted Riddle of two counts of first-degree rape, three counts of first-degree sodomy, two counts of first-degree sexual abuse and one count of third-degree unlawful sexual penetration.

Hummel added: “This child is a hero. She told her story to her aunt. She told her story to a police officer. She told her story to a child sexual abuse examiner. Then she told her story in open court, in front of many strangers.

“By having the courage to come forward and tell the truth, she ensured that Mr. Riddle will not hurt another child again.”

Hummel said the girl’s mother also was charged, and pleaded guilty to first-degree charges of sexual abuse and attempted sodomy.

McIver said she also was sentenced Tuesday, to 94 months (nearly eight years) in prison and 10 years post-prison supervision, in part due to her history and cooperation in the case against Riddle. Her name is being withheld so as not to potentially identify the young victim.

McIver said the mother, a victim of child sex abuse herself, admitted her involvement and also was being abused by Riddle at the time. A psycho-sexual evaluation she disclosed to the DA’s office was positive for not re-offending, he added.

The case was prosecuted at trial by McIver and Neil and investigated and prepared for trial by deputy DA Matthew Nelson. The sheriff’s office and Detective Danny Graham in particular “conducted a superb investigation, for which we are all grateful,” McIver said.