Tuesday, December 16, 2025
42.0°F

Sandpoint man sentenced on child porn charge

Keith KINNAIRD<br | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 16 years, 5 months AGO
by Keith KINNAIRD<br
| July 17, 2009 9:00 PM

SANDPOINT — A Sandpoint man convicted in Oregon of possessing child pornography has been sentenced to 60 days in jail with credit for time served, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

Michael Henry Forker was also ordered to register as a sex offender and placed on supervised probation for two years, said Sgt. David Thompson.

Forker, 31, was charged with encouraging child sex abuse after a search of his apartment west of Portland in 2003 turned up child pornography on a computer.

The case stalled after Forker prevailed in a motion to suppress evidence.

But an Oregon appeals court overturned the ruling and remanded the case back to circuit court, where Forker ultimately pleaded guilty to 10 counts of encouraging child sex abuse.

Washington County authorities allege photographic evidence suggests Forker had enticed children into his Oregon apartment and abused them, but some of the alleged victims remain unidentified. Forker had also been taking photos of boys in various locker rooms.

Thompson said Forker had been living in Sandpoint for the last several years.

The 1st District Court database in Bonner County indicates Forker has no criminal record as an adult. He had two juvenile offenses in 1993, but the case files remain sealed.

ARTICLES BY KEITH KINNAIRD<BR

September 30, 2010 9 p.m.

Appeals court rules in cattle truck spill case

SANDPOINT — Idaho’s Court of Appeals is upholding the vacated judgment against a Canadian cattle truck driver accused of spilling a mixture of feces, urine and rainwater on U.S. Highway 95 in Boundary County.

October 21, 2010 9 p.m.

Constitutional amendments on Nov. 2 ballot

SANDPOINT — Idaho voters will get a chance to weigh in on Idaho constitutional amendments concerning funding for the University of Idaho and public airports, hospitals and electrical systems.

May 13, 2010 9 p.m.

Man with child porn arrested by Border Patrol

PORTHILL — A United States citizen was arrested earlier this month after allegedly getting his car stuck while attempting to sneak into Canada with a laptop computer containing child pornography.