LEWISTON, ID — A Lewiston man convicted of raping a 17-year-old girl in 2022 has been sentenced to a fixed 25-year prison term, with an additional 30 years indeterminate, according to the Nez Perce County Prosecutor’s Office.
Judge Mark Monson handed down the 25- to 55-year sentence Thursday to Karl Lutonsky, 55, who was found guilty by a jury on September 15 of rape and being a persistent violator. Prosecutors said Lutonsky forcibly raped the teen on July 18, 2022, while he was on parole. The conviction marks his ninth felony.
During sentencing, the State argued for life without parole, citing Lutonsky’s criminal history and the danger he posed to the community. Prosecutors emphasized that the fixed portion of the sentence means he will not be eligible for parole until age 80.
The victim submitted a statement to the court describing the long-term trauma caused by the crime, telling the judge the assault “fundamentally broke my sense of safety and self.”
Nez Perce County Prosecutor Justin Coleman said the sentence reflects the seriousness of the offense and the lasting harm to the victim.
“Rape is one of the most serious crimes in our community,” Coleman said. “The sentence imposed in this case will ensure that the community and the victim are protected for years to come.” He thanked Senior Chief Deputy Prosecutor April Smith for handling the case and credited Lewiston Police Detective Brian Erickson for his work on the investigation.
