Child sex offender back in jail for alleged parole violation

A man convicted of seeking sex with a 12-year-old girl is locked up in the Flathead County Detention Center after authorities say he violated his probation by viewing online pornography.

Karl Cilroy Wortley, 41, of Thompson Falls, was booked into the facility on July 20 for a revocation of a suspended sentence from a 2014 case.

Wortley was previously jailed in Sanders County on July 9 after being arrested by two Thompson Falls police officers at his home on Clay Street. Officers seized a computer hard drive, cellphones, iPods and thumb drives.

Wortley was then moved to the Flathead County jail. His bond is set at $100,000 and he is scheduled to appear in Flathead County District Court on July 29 for a hearing on whether the sentence revocation will result in a prison term.

According to court documents, the case began nearly seven years ago when an agent with the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force posted an online advertisement that indicated a young female was available to engage in sexual conduct.

Wortley responded to the ad and communicated with task force agents by email. He said he was a 34-year-old man interested in making a 12-year-old girl lose her virginity. Wortley then received a photo depicting what appeared to be a girl about 12 years of age.

In an email, he described in graphic detail what he would do when he met her.

On Aug. 19, 2014, Wortley texted an undercover agent and was given an address in Flathead County to meet the girl. When Wortley arrived at the residence, officers confronted him, and he said he had traveled to the residence to have sex with a 12-year-old girl.

Wortley pleaded guilty to one felony count of sexual abuse and received a 15-year suspended sentence on Sept. 24, 2015, from District Court Judge Robert Allison.

One condition of Wortley's probation was that he may not access or possess material depicting human nudity, child exploitation or sexual acts of any kind.

Wortley also needed permission to access the internet and was prohibited from using a cellphone with photo, video or internet capabilities.

A report from his probation officer in Thompson Falls indicated Wortley admitted to viewing pornography on his home computer and having nude photos on his cellphone on July 9 and July 12.

Wortley also was accused of having contact with a 2-year-old child without an approved chaperone in April 2016.

Reporter Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 406-758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.