Carson City man sentenced to 100 years on molestation charges

A Carson City man who maintains he did not molest a young relative, was sentenced to 100 years to life in prison Monday in Carson City District Court.

"I'm not sure how to ask for mercy on a crime I am appealing," said Gerald Karpe, 42. He is expected to appeal the verdict to the Nevada Supreme Court. "Twice the district attorney offered me a plea deal of two to 20 years, but I could not plead guilty to something I did not do. I pray that you do not take away any chance of my family's future with me."

But Judge Todd Russell rejected the defense's request of consecutive sentences of 20 years to life for six counts of sexual assault.

"The victim's testimony was courageous. Your conduct is inexcusable and deplorable," he said.

Russell sentenced Karpe to 20 years on counts one and two, and 20 years each for the remaining four counts.

Karpe's parents and friends told the judge that they didn't believe he had repeatedly raped an 8-year-old relative when the boy would visit him in his trailer behind Karpe's parents' house.

"He's not that type of person. He never showed any tendency or than a normal healthy male and I don't think he should be put away at all," said Karpe's mother, Judy.

"It's just not possible," Karpe's weeping step-father, James said.

But the victim's mother and a therapist described a young child as being so scarred by the events that he has nightmares and is sure his classmates can see what's happened to him, testimony revealed.

"Why would you ever do this to him? Why would you ever hurt that baby," the victim's mother asked Karpe. "He blames himself. He thinks he's marked. My son, my 8-year-old son thinks he's gay."

"The victim in this case is going to be facing a lifetime of scars, a lifetime of shame and a lifetime of nightmares," Assistant District Attorney Gerald Gardner said, "so we think the defendant should be sent away for a lifetime."

In other court news:

A status check for James Ernest Hope was continued Monday after Defense Attorney John Oakes suggested his client is amenable to a plea agreement.

Hope, 43, was set to go to trial on Feb. 5 in the 2001 molestation of two girls ages 4 and 6. He was bound over to District Court in July 2004, but disappeared after similar allegations arose in Douglas County. He came back to Nevada after being picked up in Washington and convicted there on a similar charge.

The judge gave the prosecution and defense until the end of the week for a signed plea agreement, or they will send out jury summonses.

Hope remains in custody in Douglas County where he is scheduled to go trial on Feb. 18.

Steven Jones, 21, had his sentencing hearing Monday continued. Jones, formerly with H&S Motorcycles, was arrested in May after he allegedly locked himself and a friend's child in a bathroom and when the boy emerged he allegedly was covered in cigarette burns and welts from a spatula. Jones, who is in jail, was scheduled to be sentenced Monday on a child abuse charge, but the case was continued for three weeks.

• Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.