Mai sentenced in sexual battery case

BONNERS FERRY — A Bonners Ferry man was sentenced to a year in jail with a maximum of five and will be required to register as a sex offender after a plea deal on a lewd conduct case stemming from 2021.

As part of the plea, Ryan V. Mai, 46, admitted guilty to a count of sexual battery of a minor. Mai was originally charged Nov. 23, 2021, with three counts of lewd conduct to a minor between 16-17 years of age.

The local rancher, former coach pled guilty in May to one count of sexual battery of a minor child. In exchange, two additional counts of sexual battery were dropped with a sentencing agreement of one year in prison, and an open period indeterminate.

During the bench trial on July 8, County Prosecutor Andrakay Pluid said Mai, who was involved with 4-H and Future Farmers of America, used his position and power in the community and the organizations to “groom” the teenage victim.

The grandmother testified the victim trusted Mai like a father but said he took away the victim’s joy in FFA, 4-H and showing at the fair. Due to the coming forward, she said the victim was bullied at school and forced to do online school. She was ostracized from the community, which made her not pursue scholarship opportunities. It also has made simple tasks such as going to the post office or grocery store lead to panic attacks, she said.

Because of those actions, the woman said many victims will not come forward, especially in this community. She asked that Mai be registered as a sex offender and receive jail time.

During testimony, the victim said she had once dreamed of graduating with honors, going to law school, continuing to play in band — even playing for all-state and in college. However, due to the bullying, the victim said she has had to drop out of school. She has also had to sell off her cattle herd because she was no longer accepted in the local cattle industry because of her coming forward.

While the defense called no witnesses, his attorney said the incidents described in court records between Mai and the minor were “lapse in judgment" by the man.

Pluid argued that a “lapse in judgment” would have been a 45-year-old kissing a teenage girl, not the three counts he was originally charged with.

“What wasn’t a lapse of judgment was grooming her, arranging to meet her several times for sex,” Pluid said.

She said Mai portrayed the victim as the “aggressor,” all the while he brought her into his life by confiding to her issues in his marriage and eventually his divorce.

“She was ostracized by the community because a 16-year-old asked for attention. He, an adult took advantage, for his sexual gratification,” she said.

She said Mai thinks he should be treated differently and leniently due to his community involvement in FFA and 4-H. However, Pluid noted he used those programs to gain his gratification. Pluid recognized Mai being proactive in receiving treatment, but said he lacked the gravity of what he had done.

She asked for a year of fixed incarceration with nine years indeterminate.

Defense Attorney Jed Nixon argued the good Mai has done in the community should not be swept away in the decision. Mai’s registration as a sex offender will last longer than any jail sentence.

He also noted that his psychological exam rated him as being a low risk to reoffend.

Nixon acknowledged the community treated the victim poorly, saying it isn’t the town he has known for all these years, nor the town his family has practiced law. However, that treatment is on the community and not his client. He added the community should be ashamed of their actions and learn a lesson.

He quoted Mai in his psychological exam, that “ultimately my actions stemmed from bad decisions and I know I need to be held accountable.”

Mai gave a full confession to police when confronted, Nixon said. And, he noted that Mai took responsibility for his actions by skipping the preliminary hearing and going straight to mediation.

“[Mai] said it is my actions, my decisions, I’m the bad actor here,” Nixon said.

He added since the allegations were raised that he has lost his family, his marriage, his business and friendships.

“He deserves to start over, like the victim, in the community,” he said. “At some point, we have to move on.”

Mai has relocated to the Twin Falls area and advocated for local incarceration in order to continue treatment and working. Nixon requested that the court take into consideration Mai has no prior criminal record.

In speaking before the court, Mai said it was the biggest mistake of his life and that he is taking steps to ensure it never happens again. He apologized to the victim and the effect his actions have had on her life.

“I was the adult in the situation, but did not act like one,” he said.

He apologized to his ex-wife and his son for the loss of a 22-year marriage and the embarrassment he brought upon them. He apologized to everyone that his actions negatively affected.

He said his son is the most important person in his life and he still wants to be his father and support him through his life. He said he has been attending church and counseling, and is motivated to be a better person moving forward.

Judge Barbara Buchanan told Mai that while he talks about accepting consequences, he needs to now accept them. She added that community reactions to cases such as this are one of the saddest things she sees as a judge, but noted that is a societal issue that has no place in the ruling.

Buchanan said the victim was a minor with no father and lives with her grandmother. She added that in this case there is someone that “preys on that grooming behavior” and “took advantage of a vulnerable minor.”

While his psychological testing score was low, she said the majority of sex offenders she has tried have had low scores and no prior criminal record, who are involved in the church and the community, that’s where they find victims.

Buchanan imposed retained jurisdiction, given the factors him needing more treatment with issues of sex and pornography addiction.

Mai will serve a year in jail with a possible four years retained with no time served and a $1,000 fine. There was no restitution in the case and a no contact order is in place.

There is no statute of limitations for underage sexual assault victims to come forward. Many victims begin by confiding in someone they trust. There are 24/7 hotlines available for those looking to report a crime or provide information.