Sandpoint man sentenced on child porn charge

SANDPOINT — A Sandpoint man convicted in Oregon of possessing child pornography has been sentenced to 60 days in jail with credit for time served, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

Michael Henry Forker was also ordered to register as a sex offender and placed on supervised probation for two years, said Sgt. David Thompson.

Forker, 31, was charged with encouraging child sex abuse after a search of his apartment west of Portland in 2003 turned up child pornography on a computer.

The case stalled after Forker prevailed in a motion to suppress evidence.

But an Oregon appeals court overturned the ruling and remanded the case back to circuit court, where Forker ultimately pleaded guilty to 10 counts of encouraging child sex abuse.

Washington County authorities allege photographic evidence suggests Forker had enticed children into his Oregon apartment and abused them, but some of the alleged victims remain unidentified. Forker had also been taking photos of boys in various locker rooms.

Thompson said Forker had been living in Sandpoint for the last several years.

The 1st District Court database in Bonner County indicates Forker has no criminal record as an adult. He had two juvenile offenses in 1993, but the case files remain sealed.