More charges in suspected sexual assaults

The Daily Inter Lake

Criminal charges have multiplied against James Thorne, 41, of Kalispell, who is accused of sexually assaulting children and soliciting some to molest other children.

He pleaded innocent Aug. 31 to charges of sexual assault and sexual intercourse without consent.

On Monday, he was charged with nine felonies in place of the first two.

They are six counts of sexual intercourse without consent and four counts of solicitation of sexual intercourse without consent.

According to the criminal complaint, Thorne initiated sexual activity with four boys about the time that they were 10 and 13.

At least one of the boys said that Thorne coerced him into molesting other boys.

Thorne's computer was seized and sent to the state crime lab, where it is being scanned for child pornography images and movies.

If convicted on all counts, Thorne faces as long as 900 years in prison.