James E. 'Doc' Jensen, Jr., Coercion, Montana 2023

BILLINGS—A former Miles City high school athletic trainer has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for coercing boys into sexual activity under the guise of a program he claimed would improve their physical performance.

James E. 'Doc' Jensen, Jr., 79, pleaded guilty in March to coercion and enticement. There was no plea agreement. Chief U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen of Missoula presided.

Jensen was an athletic trainer at the Custer County District High School in Miles City from the 1970s to about 1998. He used the Internet to develop a so-called 'Program' he employed to coerce minor male student-athletes into sexual activity, saying it would increase their physical performance.

Victim interviews confirmed that Jensen engaged in this conduct until at least 1999 and after his association with Custer County District High School. In a September 2018 interview with law enforcement, Jensen admitted the basic tenants of 'The Program,' saying he got information for its administration from the Internet and had applied it to numerous minor children.

U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said, 'For years, James Jensen manipulated and committed horrible abuse against many boys, causing emotional and physical harm that his victims still suffer today. Our sincere hope is that this prosecution of Jensen, holding him accountable for his abuse, will help close a chapter in the lives of his many victims and allow them, their families and friends along with the Miles City community to begin to heal.'

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zeno Baucus, Bryan Dake, and Tim Tatarka prosecuted the case, which was investigated in 2018 by the FBI and the Montana Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigation.

Jensen's relative told law enforcement of seeing apparent computer print-outs of 'The Program' among Jensen's possessions. Another witness told investigators about seeing Jensen online and deceptively attempting to contact minor children, particularly boys, by creating a false identity. Internet searches on Jensen's computer were consistent with sexual interest in children.

Defendant: James E. 'Doc' Jensen, Jr. (full name)

Criminal Charges: Coercion and enticement

City and State: Miles City, Montana

Date: Tuesday (no specific date given)

Sentence or Outcome: 12 years in prison and 3 years of supervised release

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mt/pr/ex-miles-city-high-school-athletic-trainer-sentenced-12-years-coercion-molestation-boys