Former Juvenile Probation Officer Gets 24+ Years for 31-Year Pattern of Sexual Abuse Across Montana Reservations

GREAT FALLS — A former juvenile probation officer received one of the longest federal sentences in recent Montana history Monday after being sentenced to more than 24 years in prison for systematically abusing vulnerable Native Americans across multiple tribal reservations over 31 years.

James Kirby King, 58, of Billings, was sentenced to 290 months in federal prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for crimes that exploited his positions of trust while working with children and families from 1992 until his arrest in 2023.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided over the sentencing in Great Falls Federal District Court, concluding a case that federal prosecutors described as involving “a prolific sex offender” who preyed on “the most vulnerable and marginalized Native Americans in Montana for decades.”

Abuse of Positions of Trust

King worked as a juvenile probation officer and in school settings while systematically targeting the children and families he was supposed to protect. His crimes occurred across multiple locations including the Fort Belknap Reservation, Northern Cheyenne Reservation, Billings, and Ashland.

The federal indictment reveals King sexually abused his own descendants — children biologically related to him — in addition to other victims. He was convicted on 16 federal charges including aggravated sexual abuse of children, incest, sexual exploitation of children, attempted sex trafficking, and child pornography offenses.

Court documents detail how King repeatedly drugged victims before assaulting them, administering alcohol and other substances to render them unconscious or substantially impair their ability to resist.

“A Billings man who was a prolific sex offender and preyed on the most vulnerable and marginalized Native Americans in Montana for decades by molesting, sexually assaulting, drugging, trafficking, and exploiting any defenseless person without regard to their sex, age or biological relationship,” U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Three Decades of Systematic Abuse

The crimes began in 1992 when King sexually abused a victim under age 12, according to the federal indictment. His pattern of abuse continued through 2023, with charges including a 2018 assault where King used force against an adult victim.

One victim’s first memory of molestation occurred when she was five years old in 1996. King repeatedly abused this victim over more than a decade, court documents state.

In the mid-1990s, King gave alcohol to a 14-year-old girl until she “went blank,” then photographed her while she was unconscious, according to court testimony presented at trial.

King also produced child pornography by photographing and filming victims during sexual abuse between 1993 and 2007. Federal charges include attempted possession with intent to sell child pornography and possession of materials containing more than three images.

As recently as October 2023, King attempted to sex traffic a victim through coercion, shortly before his arrest.

Historic Federal Sentence

King’s 290-month sentence represents one of the harshest federal punishments for sexual crimes on Montana reservations in recent years, significantly exceeding other recent prosecutions on the Fort Belknap Reservation.

In September, a South Dakota man received 148 months for sexually abusing two minors on the reservation. Earlier this month, a Harlem man pleaded guilty to sexual abuse and faces up to 15 years.

The severity of King’s sentence reflects both the 31-year duration of his crimes and the range of federal charges, including trafficking, incest, and child exploitation offenses that carry enhanced penalties under federal law.

Multiple Victims Across Reservations

The investigation involved multiple victims identified in court documents, with some under age 12 and others adults at the time of their abuse. Most crimes occurred on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, where King previously lived, and other reservation communities where he worked.

Federal prosecutors presented evidence at trial showing King’s systematic targeting of vulnerable individuals without regard to age or biological relationship. Multiple incest charges detail his abuse of victims identified as his descendants who were under 16 years old.

The FBI continues to seek information from anyone who may have been victimized by King during his decades working in positions of trust across multiple Montana communities. The agency has created a dedicated victim identification page and emphasizes that victim identities remain private and confidential.

Federal Prosecution in Indian Country

The case demonstrates continued federal prosecution of major crimes on tribal lands under the Major Crimes Act. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Myers and Ryan Weldon prosecuted the case following an investigation by the FBI, Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services, and Great Falls Police Department.

Federal courts maintain jurisdiction over serious crimes committed on Indian reservations, with the FBI typically leading investigations alongside tribal law enforcement agencies.

The Fort Belknap Indian Reservation is home to the Assiniboine and Gros Ventre tribes in north-central Montana. The Northern Cheyenne Reservation, where King also lived, is home to the Northern Cheyenne Tribe in southeastern Montana.

Anyone with information about King can contact FBI Havre at 406-265-7181, option 20.