A Flathead Valley therapist is facing multiple felonies, including 15 counts of sexual abuse of children, after authorities allegedly found child porn, drugs and bomb components during a Sept. 2 raid of his Columbia Falls home.  

Scott Thomas McFarlane, 41, is being held in the county jail with bail set at $1 million following the search of his Shadow Wood Drive home. Along with the sexual abuse of children charges, McFarlane faces two counts of felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs in Flathead County District Court.   

McFarlane is expected to appear before Judge Danni Coffman on Oct. 1 for his arraignment.   

Personnel from the Flathead County Sheriff's Office and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation executed a search warrant on McFarlane's home about 7:30 p.m., court documents said. After detaining McFarlane, investigators searched a computer in the house and found about 3,000 videos featuring alleged child sexual abuse material. Authorities sent the computer off for a forensic analysis, which is expected to take up to at least 90 days.   

Investigators also found firearms — many of them seemingly staged around the building for easy retrieval — suppressors without serial numbers and suspected drugs in the home, court documents said. Authorities secured a second search warrant for the latter and seized a pair of jewel bags, one containing a brown powder and the other filled with a white powder, and several strips of paper as evidence, according to court documents.   

The brown substance later tested positive for ecstasy while the white powder tested positive for ketamine, court documents alleged.    

Searching McFarlane's garage, investigators found components for what they described in court documents as an improvised explosive device. They also allegedly recovered files on McFarlane's computer on how to make explosives.   

McFarlane is a licensed clinical social worker and therapist described as specializing in an array of areas, including children, sexual abuse and trauma, according to authorities. Before arriving in the Flathead Valley, he worked for a behavioral health entity in Missoula, court documents said.   

Sexual abuse of children is punishable by up to 100 years behind bars and a $50,000 fine. Criminal possession of dangerous drugs carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and a $5,000 fine.  

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 406-758-4430 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.