A 28-year-old Columbia Falls man was given a 10-year suspended sentence Thursday in Flathead District Court for felony sexual abuse of children.

John McFadden misrepresented himself as a middle man to a 15-year-old boy in March 2012, asking the boy to send revealing pictures of himself to a girl named “Sara” for $5 each.

McFadden, posing as Sara, sent texts to the boy, telling him McFadden would give him the money each time.

The boy sent several pictures and was paid by McFadden. The youth said McFadden told him to “keep it under the radar” because if anyone found out, a lot of people would be in trouble.

When he pleaded guilty to the charge, McFadden admitted paying for the pictures but denied receiving any. A second felony charge of sexual abuse of children was dropped.

During Thursday’s hearing, the boy’s mother testified that she had known McFadden for a couple of years and that she was aware that McFadden himself had been abused.

She asked the court to require McFadden to spend at least one and up to three years of his sentence in prison.

“This individual is out there, free, to harm other kids,” she said.

District Judge Heidi Ulbricht, however, chose to follow the recommendation of the Flathead County Attorney’s Office, suspending all of McFadden’s sentence, which means he will serve it in the community.

McFadden was designated a Tier 1 sexual offender, representing the lowest probability of reoffending.

He was ordered to follow all recommendations of a sexual offender evaluation completed prior to his sentencing.

Reporter Jesse Davis may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at [email protected].