Man guilty in 'horrific' case
By CHERY SABOL
The Daily Inter Lake
A Kalispell man pleaded guilty Friday to sex crimes against children, opening himself up to the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison.
James Thorne, 41, pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual intercourse without consent involving young boys. Previous innocent pleas still stand on another rape charge and four counts of soliciting children to perform sex acts upon other children.
"What this guy did is more horrific than any other case I've seen," said Jeanne Landis, a detective who investigates sex crimes for the Flathead County Sheriff's Office. "He encouraged kids to offend other kids. I hope this is the only case I have like this in a lifetime. It's awful."
Prosecuting Deputy County Attorney Dan Guzynski will recommend four consecutive life sentences on the four counts for which Thorne pleaded guilty. He is scheduled for trial in January for the remaining charges.
Thorne's public defender Thane Johnson told District Judge Ted Lympus that "there could be charges in the federal system" against his client.
Officials seized Thorne's computers and are having them analyzed by the state crime lab. Court documents say that officials have located 8,000 images of illegal child pornography and 120 videos. Some are homemade recordings of local children.
Thorne testified briefly that he understands the ramifications of his guilty pleas.
"I'd rather do this than have the kids up here," he said from the witness stand.
His remaining innocent pleas could cause that to happen, however, if the charges go to trial.
"We are preparing for trial," Guzynski said later.
Thorne first refused to look at Guzynski as he testified and then stared him down as he answered the prosecutor's questions.
He must undergo a sex offender evaluation and a presentence investigation will be prepared before his sentencing on March 1.
Thorne said the sexual assaults occurred in his home on Mission Way, where he and his wife operated a day care.
He was charged on Aug. 27 and pleaded innocent on Aug. 31. On Sept. 18, additional charges were added, bringing to nine the total of felonies Thorne faces.
He is being held in the Flathead County jail in lieu of $500,000 bond.
Landis said she hopes the children involved won't have to testify.
"That would be absolutely tragic," she said. "It's amazing how many lives are affected" by the case.
Thorne's guilty pleas are important to the victims, she said.
"I think it gives them some type of closure, although closure also comes in many other ways."
She was happy with the proceedings Friday.
"I think we did our job," Landis said.
Reporter Chery Sabol may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at csabol@dailyinterlake.com