Judge delays penalty

Sentencing for child-sex crimes scheduled in May

The Daily Inter Lake

James Thorne, the Kalispell man who pleaded guilty in November to sex crimes against children, will wait another two months for sentencing on those charges.

Thorne, 41, was scheduled to be sentenced Thursday in Flathead County District Court.

Deputy County Attorney Dan Guzynski asked for the delay because of possible federal charges and because a sexual-offender evaluation has not been completed for Thorne.

Thorne pleaded guilty Nov. 17 to four counts of sexual intercourse without consent involving young boys. He was charged Aug. 27 and pleaded innocent Aug. 31. On Sept. 18, additional charges were added, bringing to nine the total number of felonies Thorne faces.

Previous not-guilty pleas still stand on another rape charge and four counts of soliciting children to perform sex acts upon other children.

Thorne said the sexual assaults occurred in his home on Mission Way, where he and his wife operated a day care.

Officials seized Thorne's computers and had them analyzed by the state crime lab. According to court documents, officials have found 8,000 images of illegal child pornography and 120 videos. Some are homemade recordings of area children.

His sentencing is scheduled for May 3 in the courtroom of District Judge Ted Lympus.

Guzynski will recommend four consecutive life sentences.