Parole denied for sex offender

Darrell G. Howe convicted in 1993 in child-sex case

DEER LODGE - The state Board of Pardons and Parole last week denied early release to Darrell G. Howe, who was sentenced to 40 years in 1993 for sexual intercourse with a child in Kalispell.

Howe, 42, has amassed a record that is "almost spotless" in the state prison, board member Don Hargrove said.

But psychiatric evaluations of Howe describe someone who could be a danger to the community in which he is released, Flathead County Attorney Ed Corrigan argued.

He said Howe committed crimes that are "as repugnant and as serious" as he has seen in 25 years.

Corrigan said that Howe confessed to sexual acts with about 35 boys, ages 9 to 15.

He was arrested in 1992 when he was 29. He later admitted paying a boy $220 for sex. A second charge against Howe was dropped.

Dr. Mike Scolatti, director of a sex-offenders treatment program, said Howe is "a very skilled liar and adept manipulator." Howe admitted giving one 14-year-old boy a go-cart in exchange for sex and told two victims that the Mafia would kill someone if they didn't submit to having sex with him, records show. Howe also pretended to have amnesia, and lied about hallucinations and intending to commit suicide after his arrest, court documents show.

Scolatti said Howe "has demonstrated a pattern of predatory, stranger-oriented behavior; the defendant is the type of offender who would steal a child from a playground," according to court documents.

"That's a pretty horrendous crime you committed," Vance Curtiss, parole board chairman, told Howe.

But Hargrove seemed impressed with the programs Howe has completed in prison and his good behavior there. Only about 2.3 percent of prisoners return after they have completed the second phase of sexual treatment that Howe has, he said.

"Basically, what we're doing is warehousing you to protect the public," Curtiss said.

There's nothing wrong with that, Corrigan told the board.

"He was, is, and in my opinion, will always be a danger to children. We are warehousing him. That's what we are asking you to do."

A relative of Howe's asked for his release, saying "it's time" for Howe to come home and get back to work.

The board, though, decided not to release him.

He has seven more years to serve to satisfy his sentence with automatic parole.

Reporter Chery Sabol may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at csabol@dailyinterlake.com.