District Judge Julie Macek sent a sex offender with a 50-year history of attacking and raping teenage girls back to prison Wednesday, fearing that he was falling into past predatory behaviors.
Macek said that although the law allowed her to lock up James Richard "Dick" Tregedga only until May 28, 2008, that time was better than nothing.
"I cannot fathom that you should be a free man," she said.
Tregedga, 68, has been in and out of prison and the state mental hospital in Warm Springs since 1957.
He's been charged with assault in connection with a rape, statutory rape and attempted rape. In 1971, 1981 and 1992, he was convicted of rape twice in Great Falls and once in Billings.
Repeatedly, Tregedga befriended young girls, buying them presents.
In 1992, he pressured a 15-year-old girl into telling him where she was babysitting then invited himself over. He forced himself on her, gave her $5 and then cited the money as evidence that she was a prostitute.
Released from prison on that charge in 1998, police said it appears he behaved himself for several years. But recently he began "acting up."
Tregedga stalked an 18-year-old at the gym, even as she changed the time she worked out. He followed her in the parking lot and bought her jewelry. She told her father, who called police.
Detective Art Schalin learned Tregedga also had been following another woman. Tregedga bothered her at work and even followed her home.
Tregedga was arrested in March for propositioning women for sex at the downtown bus depot. Though a misdemeanor, the charge combined with his recent behavior was enough to challenge his suspended sentence on the 1992 rape.
"These red flags are screaming at us," Cascade County Attorney Brant Light said. "If he isn't locked up, I'm going to come to work one morning and find out he assaulted another young woman."
Light fervently argued that prison was the only option, noting Tregedga's repeated crimes and repeated problems while on probation over the past 50 years.
Most recently, Tregedga violated the conditions of his probation in 2000, spending time at Gibson Park. That garnered him a second chance as his suspended sentence was reinstated and he was released with supervision.
Neighbors have been fighting to have him locked up since 1999, when they learned of Tregedga's past in the Tribune. Several packed into the courtroom and wrote letters to the judge and prosecutors to convey their concern.
Other neighbors testified on his behalf, telling the judge how Tregedga would shovel the walk and help bring in groceries. His former counselor Joe Boyle noted that he was making progress.
However, all of the defense witnesses acknowledged that they didn't know about Tregedga's recent behavior.
Tregedga told the court that while he's not perfect, he is improving and hasn't reoffended in the seven years since his release from prison.
"To put me in jail to protect the community from what? I haven't done anything," he said.
His lawyer, Carl Jensen, agreed that he needed help, but said prison wouldn't give him any. He asked for intense supervision and treatment. He feared any progress would be lost, and Tregedga would be released at the end of his sentence with the court having no supervision over him.
"The idea that sending him to prison will protect these people, they are fooling themselves," Jensen said.
"What will?" Macek challenged.
Macek said his stalking bared too many similarities to how he behaved before his previous offenses.
At most, her decision places Tregedga back in Montana State Prison for the next three years.
"At least during the time this defendant is serving his sentence, he will not put anyone else in danger," she said. "That's it. That's all I can do."
Reach Tribune Staff Writer Kim Skornogoski at 791-6574, (800) 438-6600 or kskornog@greatfal.gannett.com.
Originally published April 28, 2005
