Following a two-day trial, Christopher Oler was found guilty on all nine counts against him. Those counts were three charges of sexual abuse on a child less than 12 years old, one count of firstdegree rape on a child under 14 and one of first-degree rape by force or fear. There were two further acts of lewd or indecent acts with a child less than 16, one of possession of child porn and one of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
In June 2021 an investigation was begun into allegations that a child had been repeatedly raped by her father, identified as Christopher Oler. The victim indicated the abuse had gone on as long as she could remember, beginning she had reached puberty. A medical exam conducted later backed up that statement.
Oler, the victim said, believed they were in a relationship. When she was going on a camping trip, the victim said her father made her use his cell phone to take nude photos of herself to tide him over until her return.
The witness who brought the victim in to the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office told the investigators that Oler was a convicted felon but had multiple firearms at his home. When officers arrived at his home to effect the arrest, they did find and take into custody firearms, a cell phone and computer, as well as multiple sex toys that were recovered from the victim’s bedroom.
Oler was arrested and bond was set at half a million dollars. In July 2021, he plead not guilty.
The at trial, the state laid out its case against the defendant, who was found guilty on all nine counts. On counts one through five, the sexual abuse and rape charges, Oler faces life sentences and fines of $2500 per count. On counts six and seven, lewd acts with child under 16, the penalties are 20-year sentences on each count. Count eight, the possession of child porn charge, carries a three-year sentence and count nine attaches a 10-year sentence.
While the suggested punishment for the offenses were issued by the jury, formal sentencing is set for Dec. 15.