Man sentenced to 25 years prison for sexually abusing 6-year-old
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IDAHO FALLS — A local man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for sexually abusing a six-year-old girl.
James Patrick Kilroy, 31, was originally charged with lewd conduct with a child under 16. As part of a plea agreement, the charge was amended to child sexual abuse of a minor under 16.
In District Court in Bonneville County, Kilroy was sentenced Monday afternoon to 13 years fixed and 12 years indeterminate by Judge Dane H. Watkins Jr.
“My daughter trusted everyone, she made everyone smile, she saw the good in people,” the mother of the girl read in a victim impact letter. “Now she looks over her shoulder and asks if James is still in jail.”
Kilroy was staying with a friend when the abuse happened. The child’s father was asleep and her mother was in another room doing laundry when Kilroy went upstairs with the girl.
Documents state he “trapped” the child and sexually assaulted her.
The girl reported the incident to her mother. She would later tell police Kilroy had molested her during a previous incident, but he threatened her not to say anything.
Kilroy and his attorney, Jordan Crane, both requested probation and argued that Kilroy could be treated in out-patient treatment.
Chief Prosecutor John Dewey argued Kilroy’s criminal history proves he is a risk to the community.
Dewey specifically Kilroy’s convictions for sexual molesting 5- and 7-year-old female relatives. Then, while in treatment for those charges, Kilroy sexually assaulted a member of the group home he was living in, Dewey said.
“I’m very sorry,” Kilroy told the court. “I’m not smart. The last time I did anything like this was 16 years ago. I’m human and I made a mistake. I just want to go home.”
“I need to detour you from committing offenses,” Watkins told Kilroy. “The court recognizes and appreciates your statement; however, it is just not that easy — you can’t be sent home. The age of the victim is very tender in years. The court believes you’re a risk, and you perpetrated this act for your own sexual gratification.”
The mother of the child told EastIdahoNews.com Kilroy’s statement was cowardly.
“‘I want go home’ — really? (The child) can’t go home, she can’t go back to her normal life. She will in time, but its not that easy,” the mother said.
She said she was “very happy” with the sentence.
“We finally got closure. (The child) will move on from here and become the best she can be. … Now she has closed this door and can move onto healing,” she said.