Four of the six Flathead County men who were nabbed in a child sex sting operation earlier this year have been released on reduced bonds.
Karl Cilroy Wortley, 34, was the most recent suspect whose bond was reduced at Flathead County District Court on Nov. 19. His bond was reduced from $100,000 to $30,000.
In October, Benjamin David Emrich and Justin Allen Zeiss both had their bonds reduced and they were released. Emrich’s was reduced to $40,000 and Zeiss’ was brought down to $25,000. Last week, on Nov. 13, Christopher Paul Adams’ bond was reduced to $25,000. All four men must comply with a series of conditions and must wear GPS monitoring devices.
The last two men who were nabbed in the August sex-sting, Joshua Frederick Naethe and Daniel Anthony Hall, are both still in custody at the Flathead County Jail on $100,000 bond. Naethe has a bail reduction hearing on Dec. 4.
According to charging documents filed in court, each of the men responded to undercover Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) agents posing either as an adult woman offering a 12-year-old girl for sex or as an underage teen.
Of the local men arrested, court documents say that five of them allegedly sought out sexual conduct with a 12-year-old, while one individual, Emrich, allegedly propositioned an agent posing as a 14-year-old for sex.
Felony sexual abuse of children carries a maximum penalty of 100 years in prison and a maximum fine of $50,000. Offenders are also required to successfully complete the educational, cognitive and behavioral phases of a sexual offender treatment program.