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  Home Page » News » Suspect In Court For Child Sex Sting

Suspect in court for child sex sting

Man accused of luring minors on Internet

by Garrett Andrews
Herald Staff Writer A Durango man appeared in La Plata County Court on Thursday on suspicion of using the Internet to attract boys from area high schools.

Tom Helm, 60, was arrested Wednesday after police say he exchanged correspondences with an undercover officer he believed was a 14-year-old boy.

At the preliminary hearing, County Judge Martha Minot advised Helm of his rights and set his bond at $250,000. Helm currently is being held at La Plata County Jail. His next court date is Thursday, when charges are expected to be filed.

In an affidavit obtained by The Durango Herald on Thursday, investigators say Helm communicated with the undercover officer on the social networking Web site MySpace. He arranged to meet the boy Wednesday at Greenmount Cemetery. The affidavit said Helm arrived at the meeting with condoms, chocolate syrup and beer in his possession.

The arrest affidavit does not list any victims, and so far the investigation has yet to identify any victims.

Durango Police were contacted by a confidential source in October 2008 after the source set up a meeting with a man calling himself "John from Durango" on his MySpace page. The arrest affidavit states the person scheduled a meeting with "John" at the Durango BMX track, hid and watched Helm arrive for the meeting and then leave.

Police learned Helm's identity by checking the license plate number provided by their source. Durango Police Officer Cindi Clay began sending online messages to him from an undercover MySpace page, posing as a 14-year-old. On Helm's page, Clay said she observed "many" younger males in his "friends" section. He listed his age as 49 and had his mood meter set to "aroused."

After Clay initiated contact, Helm asked the 14-year-old if he was looking for more sexual experience, the affidavit said.

"Of course u r scared," Helm wrote during one exchange. "That is why we can first start with teaching you good sexy ways to french kiss, making out ... "

Helm goes on to suggest that he can teach the boy sexual techniques.

A story written by Helm on a gay erotic Web site  and listed in the "Gay Adult-Youth" category ends with a passage that invites contact with the author.

"If you would like to experience the true version of this story and can tell me what some of these acronyms mean and you live in southwestern Colorado or northwestern New Mexico and are under the age of 27, then email me ... the acronyms are: FLC, SJC, DHS, SJBTC, FHS, AHS, MHS, BHS, IHS, PSHS."

The acronyms are those of area high schools and colleges.

Helm was a spotlighted volunteer on Durango's Christ the King Lutheran Church's Web site. His biography Wednesday stated Helm was active in Boy Scouts at some point in his life.

"Tom's favorite activity is camping," the cached page reads. "He has also spent 20 years as a Boy Scout leader and has guided hundreds of scouts, many of whom have become Eagle Scouts."

But Thursday, scout leaders said they have no recollection of Helm participating in scouting activities in the area. Chris Shelby, scout executive for the Great Southwest Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and Mary Pye, district executive of the Mesa Verde District, both said they and volunteers they spoke with do not recall Helm's involvement.

The Great Southwest Council began keeping computerized records of volunteers in 1991, the year Helm moved to Durango. Shelby said the Boy Scouts has rigorous standards for volunteers, require background checks and forbid unsupervised adult contact with children on scout trips.

Christ the King Lutheran Church members said Thursday they believed Helm was involved in scouts before moving to Durango from Lancaster County, Pa. Calls and e-mails to the Boy Scouts of America's head office in Irving, Texas, were not returned Thursday.

Helm and his wife were listed as contacts for a church-sponsored youth camping trip on the church's Web site. Pastor John Knutson said Thursday the trip recently was canceled because of lack of interest. Knutson said he can't remember Helm supervising children at a church event.

Helm is married with no children.

Church members Thursday said Helm is a polite, friendly man. He was the last person you'd expect to prey on children, Knutson said.

"We're shocked and saddened," Knutson said. "We just hope there aren't any victims."

gandrews@durangoherald.com