Santa Rosa, CA – August 21, 2018 – Kevin Scott
Thorpe, 40 years old of Rohnert Park, was sentenced today by the Honorable Dana
Simonds to twenty-one years in the state prison. This sentence followed Thorpe previously
pleading no-contest to eleven sex offenses he committed against four separate
teenage victims.
District
Attorney Ravitch stated, “The prison term is appropriate for the nature of
criminal offenses committed. The defendant used his position of authority
to prey upon vulnerable kids. We hope the conclusion of the
criminal case will assist the victims in moving forward with their lives.”
This case stems
from an investigation that was prompted when a former student at the Hanna Boys
Center came forward and disclosed sexual abuse committed by Thorpe, the
student’s assigned caseworker at the school. The Sheriff’s Department conducted
an investigation that corroborated the former student’s account, and led to the
discovery of additional victims as well. After Thorpe was charged, three adult
men and one juvenile victim testified at a preliminary hearing in May 2018.
During the hearing, the three men described being victimized by Thorpe during
their teens while Thorpe was their caseworker at the Hanna Boys Center. The
fourth victim was called as a witness, but had difficulty discussing his
interactions with Thorpe. The lead detective in the case later testified at the
hearing about what that victim had previously reported. Following the three day
hearing, Thorpe was held to answer to numerous sex offenses committed against
each of the victims while they were children.
Thorpe
ultimately pled no-contest and was found guilty of five counts of unlawful oral
copulation accomplished by duress, five counts of unlawful oral copulation with
a minor, and one count or annoying or molesting a child. Five of those
convictions are “strikes” under California’s three strikes law. Per the terms
of the plea agreement, Thorpe was sentenced to 21 years in state prison. Thorpe
will be required to register as a sex offender pursuant to Penal Code section
290 upon his release.
This case was
prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Andrew Lukas. Sergeant Greg
Piccinini of the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department headed the investigation.
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