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April 26, 2005
More charges filed against former deputy
DEER LODGE — A list of accusations against former Deer Lodge sheriff's deputy and karate instructor William John Henry grew last week to include three new sex crimes and another charge related to supplying a minor child with alcohol.
Henry, 40, appeared in Powell County district court Thursday, where he pleaded not guilty to amended charges that now include seven counts of sexual intercourse without consent, all felonies involving minors, and a misdemeanor charge of unlawful transactions with children.
The latest charges are the result of new information received during an ongoing investigation by agents from the Montana Department of Justice and the Powell County sheriff's department, according to a spokesperson from the attorney general's office in Helena.
District Judge Ted Mizner denied the defense's request for a change from the established $50,000 cash-only bond to an $85,000 property bond and $7,500 bail bond. Henry was remanded to custody at an undisclosed location after his court appearance.
Assistant Attorney General John Connor is prosecuting the case.
Henry is represented by Butte attorney Pat McGee.
Powell County Sheriff Scott Howard said Henry, who worked for the department for four years, was suspended from his post without pay after his arrest on Dec. 28.
The circumstances of the new charges are similar to those in previous allegations filed after Henry's arrest, according to claims made by victims who were juveniles when the rapes allegedly occurred between Jan. 1, 2001, and Dec. 28, 2004. That's when court documents allege Henry brought or invited the victims, ages 13 to 17, to his residence "compound" near Garrison, plied them with alcohol, tobacco and pornography, and allegedly performed sexual acts with them.
Some of those boys went to the Henry property to ride four-wheelers; others were involved with a karate class Henry instructed, records say.
The records allege that Henry led the youths to believe they were having sex with a female, and allegedly covered their heads with reversed ski masks or blankets secured with duct tape while sex acts were performed. Henry is accused of paying the youths after the initial encounters sums of $100 or less, and later offered them free karate lessons for participating.
However, none of the youths ever saw a female at the residence, and none of them consented to any kind of sexual activity with Henry at any time, records show. The victims now believe that Henry performed the acts, records say.
The allegations came to light in December, when a counselor in Dillon reported to the Department of Justice Criminal Division suspicions of sexual abuse involving activities between the Deer Lodge police officer and several teenaged boys, records show. The state investigation followed.
On Dec. 28, the investigators interviewed a number of alleged victims, who described comparable sexual experiences at the Henry property, records show. Since then, other alleged victims have been identified and have offered similar details.
If convicted, Henry faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment plus a fine of $50,000 for each separate count.
The misdemeanor charge carries a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Posted by Nealus at April 26, 2005 11:53 AM
