Spokane: Ex-youth minister gets 15 years for sex with minor

James Ritter used manipulation to groom young girls at a Lutheran church, deceive their parents and fool church leaders. But the former youth minister didn't dupe a Spokane County judge on Monday with his words of remorse and acknowledgement of deplorable acts as he pleaded for community-based sex-offender treatment rather than prison. Ritter was sentenced to 15 years on six counts of first-degree sexual misconduct. The charges stem from at least six times he met and had sex with a 16-year-old girl after youth group.