Nearly three years after it began, a Kila man who viciously raped and beat a woman on Christmas Eve 2017 was sentenced Monday to 40 years in the Montana State Prison.

Alexander Kim Torppe, 33, appeared in Flathead County District Court in front of Judge Heidi Ulbricht ,who pronounced the sentence.

“The offense you stand convicted of are some of the most horrific seen in this district,” Ulbricht said. “You’ve acknowledged you are a coward and an abuser.”

Torppe received credit for 1,087 days served and he will be eligible for parole in about seven years. He also was ordered to pay restitution of more than $24,000 to the victim and a victim’s compensation fund. He remains in the county jail.

On Sept. 5, Torppe, agreed to plead guilty, but mentally ill, to one count of aggravated assault. He entered a no contest, but mentally ill, plea to one count of assault with a weapon. Torppe also agreed to plead guilty by way of Alford to one count of aggravated kidnapping and to one count of sexual intercourse without consent.

But on Monday, one of his public defenders, Alisha Rapkoch, reported her client had changed his mind in terms of where he wanted to serve his sentence.

Rapkoch said Torppe wanted to be off medication and go to the Montana State Prison to serve his sentence instead of the Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs.

Torppe spent time in the Montana State Hospital after his attorneys argued he was unfit to stand trial. He said he didn’t understand the legal proceedings he was part of and was diagnosed with a severe major depressive order. Torppe also said he heard and felt “frequencies” from the modulator.

Torppe met with doctors at the state hospital in Deer Lodge and those exams led Judge Ulbricht to rule Torppe unfit to stand trial. He allegedly told the doctors interviewing him he believed drug use “ruined my brain.”

Torppe’s commitment to the state hospital was extended to March 26, 2020, but in two court hearings in June things changed dramatically. After hearing testimony from his mother, ex-wife, a forensic psychiatrist and attorney William Managhan, Judge Ulbricht issued her order June 23, stating “the Court finds the totality of the evidence presented supports the conclusion Torppe is malingering his symptoms.”

Flathead Deputy County Attorney Andrew Clegg also requested the court address the matter of a social media page reportedly operated by Torppe’s mother.

“The page identifies the victim and Torppe and it’s our understanding his mother operates it,” Clegg said.

Rapkoch said she would try to have the woman take the page down or possibly the victim could contact the company to have it removed.

The victim, her father, and Torppe gave emotional testimony during the hearing.

“He (Torppe) eradicated my sense of dignity,” the victim said as her voice wavered. “He acts as if he can’t control himself, but he perpetuated a sham of using facilities that are needed for people who really need help.

“I hope he’ll never be able to hurt another woman again,” she said. “I had no idea of what kind of a person he was.”

The victim’s father said his family was completely devastated by what happened.

“We have no compassion for this monster,” he said. “He’s done this before and he’ll do it again if he is ever freed.”

Torppe sighed deeply, then sobbed as he spoke.

“I’ve broken the hearts of many, including myself. I’ve brought dishonor to myself, my family and friends,” he said. “I lost my way a long time ago and I started to use drugs to deal with my problems and the meth made me a monster.”

According to the affidavit of probable cause, on Dec. 24, 2017, the victim knocked on her parents’ door at about 7 a.m. The court documents state they found her badly injured and described her as “unrecognizable.” She was diagnosed with a lacerated liver, collapsed lung and bleeding in the brain, as well as bruises and cuts all over her body, court documents stated. Her eyes were swollen shut and clumps of her hair were missing.

The parents told detectives they hadn’t seen her in months and suspected Torppe was responsible. The victim awoke two days later and stated “Alex did it.”

County detectives spoke to the victim after she regained memories of the months prior to her hospitalization. She said Torppe took her to his home in a remote area on Browns Meadow Road.

Additional information in the affidavit indicated Torppe forced the woman to have sex. The victim said Torppe cut her with a knife in her genital area, which was corroborated by medical providers.

Flathead County Attorney Travis Ahner spoke of Clegg’s efforts in prosecuting Torppe.

“Andrew Clegg poured himself into this case and fought for the victim and for justice all along the long and winding road this case has traveled. I cannot thank him enough for the hard work and countless hours he has invested,” Ahner said.

Reporter Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com