Repeat sexual offender sentenced to 25 years in prison

Scott Reum was sentenced to 25 years in prison in Lake County District Court last Wednesday, Dec. 22, for three counts of felony sexual assault and failure to register as a sexual offender. The 30-year-old resident of Polson is a repeat sexual offender.

Reum was first convicted of felony sexual assault on April 28, 1993, according to court documents. After two revocations of his probation, he was sentenced to prison on June 28, 2000 and released two years later. Reum moved to Polson from Kalispell in 2003 without registering his change of address with the Lake County Sheriff's Department.

Court affidavits allege Reum moved in with a woman and asked her 5-year-old daughter to wear a bathing suit. The girl felt uncomfortable and revealed the information to a school counselor. Further investigation led to the three counts of sexual assault. Reum also possessed child pornography on a home computer, according to court documents.

Reum must pay for the medical and counseling expenses of the victim, according to his plea agreement. He must also destroy all pornography in his possession and must not visit adult bookstores or strip clubs.

In order for early release on parole, Reum must have completed Phase I and II of the sexual offender treatment program. Reum was sentenced to 50 years in Montana State Prison for each assault charge, with 25 years suspended on each count. He also received five years for failing to register as a sex offender, but all the sentences run concurrently.

Reum is credited for time served during his long interment in Lake County jail as his case proceeded. He has been in jail since March 2003 while investigations and a psychosexual evaluation were performed.