Bigfork man sentenced for sexual assault

A Bigfork man who pleaded guilty to raping a teenage girl numerous times over a one-year period was recently sentenced to serve time in state prison.

John Paul Wehrman, 66, received a 20-year sentence to the Montana State Prison on Thursday, Sept. 20 in Flathead District Court by Judge Amy Eddy.

Wehrman was originally charged in October 2020 with one felony count of sexual assault and two felony counts of incest. Both incest counts were dropped as the result of a plea deal made earlier this year.

According to charging documents, a Flathead County Sheriff’s Office deputy took a report from the Child Protective Services hotline on Nov. 4, 2019, which indicated Wehrman had raped a teenage girl multiple times over the last year. The last assault reportedly took place on Nov. 3, 2019.

According to court documents, a used condom taken to law enforcement officers contained DNA profiles belonging to Wehrman and the victim.

In court documents filed before last week’s hearing, letters to the court argued in favor of Wehrman receiving a long sentence and also from proponents arguing for no jail time.

The victim wrote that she was placed in foster care with Wehrman and his wife.

“It felt amazing to have adults in my life who cared about me,” the victim wrote to the court.

But she then detailed a moment after a camping trip when Wehrman forced himself on her.

“I thought about it the rest of the day. Do I tell someone? What if they don’t believe me? I can’t lose him, he’s the only person I trust,” the victim wrote.

She then described other incidents, which included rape.

The victim’s adoptive mother also wrote a letter to the court with her beliefs of how Wehrman should be sentenced.

“The first 18 years of [her] life were deflected by individuals like the Wehrmans attempting to suppress her. Despite unimaginable acts from multiple adults, [she] has continued to find resolve,” she told the court.

The victim’s mother wrote she wanted Wehrman to serve time away from society.

“John you deserve nothing less than the life sentence you gave my daughter!” the victim’s mother wrote.

Many friends and family members wrote letters on Wehrman’s behalf.

His sister, Connie Kirkland, explained Wehrman had cared for their elderly parents, both in their 90s.

“I ask that if it all possible for him to continue to care for them and serve his time at their home caring for them with the understanding that he would have severe restrictions,” Kirkland wrote.

A former co-worker at Kalispell School District also told the court that "society would be best served if John were given a deferred sentence and allowed to remain in the Flathead Valley to care for his elderly parents.”

Wehrman was booked into the Flathead County Detention Center Sept. 30 after his sentencing. He’ll remain there until he is moved to the state prison in Deer Lodge.

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