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Judge revokes sex offender’s probation

by KAYE THORNBRUGH
Staff Writer | April 10, 2021 1:00 AM

COEUR d’ALENE — A registered sex offender who failed to update his information will spend at least five years in prison.

Patrick M. Morris, 59, of Coeur d’Alene, pleaded guilty to failure to register a change of address, a felony.

Judge John Mitchell sentenced Morris last week to three years indeterminate.

Mitchell also found that Morris had violated the terms of his probation in a 2015 aggravated assault case and imposed a sentence of five years fixed and 15 years indeterminate.

Morris pleaded guilty in 1991 to two counts of child molestation in Spokane County. The cases involved two children, aged 3 and 15 years old.

Because of these convictions, Morris was required to register as a sex offender if living or working in Idaho.

In December 2020, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office received information that indicated Morris had resided at a Spokane residence for more than 30 days, though he was registered at a Coeur d’Alene address.

Sex offenders in Idaho are required to notify the county sheriff’s office of any changes in residence within two working days.

Police obtained a warrant for Morris’ arrest and took him into custody on Jan. 28.

Judge Mitchell also presided over a 2015 aggravated assault case in which Morris pleaded guilty to intentionally hitting another vehicle with his car.

Mitchell sentenced Morris in 2017 to five years fixed and 10 years indeterminate but retained jurisdiction in the case.

Morris then spent time in a prison treatment program, called a rider, before Mitchell placed him on probation.

Between the two sentences, Morris will spend five years in prison, followed by an indeterminate sentence of up to 13 years.