82-Year-Old Sentenced to 12 Years for Child Sex Crime

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Thomas Amiot, an 82-year-old man from Crookston, Minnesota, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for committing a first-degree sex crime against a child under the age of 13. Amiot pleaded guilty in December and was given the minimum sentence for engaging in sexual conduct with a boy between 2012 and 2013.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing challenge of prosecuting and sentencing elderly offenders who commit serious sex crimes against minors, as courts must balance public safety, the severity of the offense, and the defendant's age and personal circumstances.

The details

Over a monthslong period in 2012 and 2013, Amiot engaged in sexual conduct with a boy who was 11 or 12 years old at the time. Amiot's attorney requested a stayed sentence instead of prison time due to Amiot's age, lack of criminal history, past trauma, and a suicide attempt in 2024. The attorney also cited Amiot's charitable work, including starting and funding the Cove Youth Center in Crookston. However, the request for a stayed sentence was denied, and Amiot will serve his full 12-year prison term in St. Cloud.

• In 2012 and 2013, Amiot engaged in sexual conduct with a boy under the age of 13.
• Amiot pleaded guilty to the charges in December 2025.
• Amiot was sentenced to 12 years in prison on April 5, 2026.

What’s next

Amiot will serve his 12-year prison sentence in St. Cloud. Upon release, he will be on supervised release for 10 more years and will have to register as a sex offender.