Child molester leaves area in deal with prosecutors

A child molester arrested for allegedly giving false information when he registered as a sex offender in Kalispell will leave the state, according to terms of an agreement with prosecutors.

William Eric Brown was 34 last June when he was sought by Kalispell authorities. He was found at a state swim meet in Missoula, reportedly hiding from officers and watching children. He has a criminal history of victimizing a 15-year-old girl. He is required to register as a sex offender wherever he goes.

However, Brown reportedly gave a fictitious address to Kalispell police. They believed he was living in his vehicle and issued a warrant for his arrest.

After his arrest in Missoula, Brown was returned to the Flathead where he pleaded innocent and was to stand trial Monday on the felony charge of failing to register as a sex offender.

Instead, a deal was struck in District Judge Kitty Curtis' court.

Brown said he wanted to leave Montana and return to his home state of North Carolina.

Flathead County officials agreed to that and wanted to make arrangements to discourage Brown from returning to Montana.

An agreement was signed Monday by Brown; his attorney, Gary Doran; and Deputy County Attorney Lori Adams.

Both sides agreed to the issuance of an arrest warrant for Brown. He was reportedly in a treatment center and not at the trial set to begin Monday, and so the warrant was written on a charge of failing to appear in court.

Prosecutors will not charge Brown with bail jumping and the warrant will be limited to the state of Montana and will not be issued nationwide.

"The intent is to discourage the defendant from returning to the state of Montana and, if he should do so, for the warrant to operate as a device" so that Brown could be immediately arrested.