The jury in the Butte Sliver Bow District Court has found Former Flathead Valley Youth Hockey founder Jami Leslie James guilty on all 6-counts of sex crimes against some of his hockey players. Judge Robert Whelan ordered a pre-sentencing hearing. He’ll pronounce sentencing on November 6th, likely putting the 50-year old James in prison for the rest of his life..
James is represented by Kalispell attorneys Scott Hilderman and Lane Bennett. Attorneys for the Attorney-General’s office, Kelli Fivey and Stephanie Robles, handled prosecution.
The charges in Flathead County stem from alleged rapes at James’ Columbia Falls home and during a camping trip at Hungry Horse Reservoir in 2020. Prosecutors says both underage victims told investigators that James pulled down their pants and stuck an object into their rectums.
In Butte, prosecutors say one of the victims there says he was also raped by James at a Butte hotel. A third boy saw a newspaper article and photo about James’ arrest in early February and told his parents two days later, “I think JJ did that to me.” Authorities believe it occurred at a different hotel in Butte, leading to the second charge there.
