A 37-year-old Somers man was sentenced to prison Thursday for sexual abuse of children. He is the first to be sentenced of seven men who were arrested in a police sting last summer.

Joshua Frederick Naethe was sentenced by Flathead District Judge Ted Lympus to five years in the Montana State Prison. He was convicted of felony sexual abuse of children.

The sentence is in accord with a plea agreement signed in April.

The initial sting investigation was carried out through the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Authorities posted fake online advertisements indicating that young women were available for sex.

Naethe responded to one of the ads. In an email, he said that he was interested in helping a 12-year-old girl “become a woman.”

He then communicated via text with an undercover agent who set up a physical meeting place.

Naethe arrived at the location and was taken into custody.

The sting, carried out in August last year, led to the arrest of men across Western Montana.

At least seven of them were processed in Flathead County courts.

Karl Cilroy Wortley, Benjamin David Emrich and Daniel Anthony Hall have all pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of children and are due for upcoming sentencing hearings.

Justin Allen Zeiss and Christopher Paul Adams have maintained not guilty pleas and are headed for jury trials.

The last to be arrested was Brett Anthony Cislo, who pleaded not guilty in May to two counts of sexual abuse of children.

In his sentencing, Naethe was given credit for 319 days served in jail.

Reporter Matt Hudson may be reached at 758-4459 or by email at mhudson@dailyinterlake.com.