Bigfork man faces life in prison for sex crimes

A Bigfork man already facing federal prison time for sex crimes has been convicted in Flathead County of molesting two young sisters.

During a hearing Tuesday in Flathead County District Court, Ralph Leon Fox, 50, pleaded guilty to felony sexual assault and failure to register as a sex offender.

He also pleaded guilty by way of Alford to a second count of felony sexual assault.

An Alford plea allows a defendant to maintain his innocence while conceding enough evidence may exist for a conviction.

Prosecutors believe Fox inappropriately touched a 6-year-old girl and her 10-year-old sister between June 2005 and December 2006.

He also took pictures of them in various states of undress, according to court records.

The victims' parents were in court Tuesday when Fox took the stand and admitted to the molestation, Deputy Flathead County Attorney Lori Adams said.

Fox, who was convicted without the benefit of a plea bargain, could face up to 205 years or life in prison at his July 30 sentencing hearing.

Prosecutors will come up with a sentencing recommendation after receiving a pre-hearing report from the state Office of Probation and Parole and after speaking with the victims' family, Adams said.

Adams said she believes Fox will be required to complete any state prison sentence before starting a 110-year term in a federal penitentiary.

Fox was convicted in March 2008 of sexual exploitation of children, receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography after a one-day bench trial in front of U.S. District Court Judge Donald W. Molloy.

According to federal records, Fox took pornographic pictures of a 6-year-old girl, the same girl Flathead County prosecutors convicted him of molesting, between 2005 and 2007.

When investigators searched Fox's computer, they found images of the girl and other minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Authorities also seized a second computer tower, digital camera and video camera.

Forensic analysis of the computer equipment revealed thousands of pornographic pictures and movies.

Fox had been required to register as a sexual offender after a 1984 conviction for lewd and lascivious acts with a 7-year-old girl in Redding, Calif.

He later violated terms of his parole and had it revoked twice, once fleeing the state.

Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com