Molester's hearing is postponed

The Daily Inter Lake

The sentencing hearing for a Kalispell man convicted of numerous sex crimes was postponed Thursday to Feb. 28, but that date is again subject to change, according to Flathead County prosecutors.

James Matthew Thorne, 42, pleaded guilty in November 2006 in Flathead County to four counts of sexual intercourse without consent involving young boys.

The hearing was continued because authorities have yet to acquire a psychological and sexual offender evaluation, a tool that helps guide sentencing recommendations.

The Flathead County Attorney's Office is attempting to obtain the evaluation federal prosecutors used to sentence Thorne in December to 30 years in prison.

If that proves impossible, county prosecutors said they will commission an updated evaluation of their own.

Thorne pleaded guilty in June to federal charges of sexual exploitation of children and the receipt and possession of child pornography after photographing young boys wearing only underwear and then selling the clothing on eBay.

After his federal sentencing, Thorne was returned to Flathead County where he faces up to four consecutive life prison terms.

Thorne has said the sexual assaults occurred in his home on Mission Way, where he and his wife operated Paint and Place Daycare.

Flathead County prosecutors allege the sexual assaults occurred between January 2002 and August 2006. According to court documents, at least four boys between ages 8 and 15 were involved.

According to court documents, officials seized 8,000 images of illegal child pornography and 120 videos from Thorne's computer. Some of the images were received via the Internet, but officials also found numerous pictures and videos that Thorne took or recorded of boys in his care.