A former Douglas County High School teacher was sentenced to 300 days in jail after pleading guilty to child sex exploitation and child abuse involving a student, the 23rd Judicial District said Friday.
James Christopher “Jim” Thomure, 57, of Centennial was arrested in June 2024 after he sexually assaulted and propositioned a 17-year-old student who was finishing an exam in his classroom in May 2024, according to police reports.
Thomure pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a child, a felony, and misdemeanor child abuse in January. The district attorney’s office dismissed one count of child sex assault as part of the plea agreement.
The victim read a statement during Thomure’s sentencing hearing Friday and described feeling guilty after the assault and Thomure’s arrest and worrying about how it was impacting him. She convinced herself he thought it was a terrible mistake and regretted it, she said.
“However, this consideration and care was once again not extended when he chose not to plead guilty at the first plea hearing,” she said. “It was not extended when he made that choice knowing I would have to endure a trial over a crime we both know was committed.”
She described being weighed down with anxiety during her high school graduation, carrying the secret of what happened as she was expected to praise him while talking to her classmates.
“The experience has stayed with me for years. I am proud that I chose to stand with myself, with others who have spoken out, who are afraid to speak out or are unsure if they should,” she said.
In addition to 300 days in jail, Thomure was sentenced to eight years of intensive probation for sex offenders as part of the plea agreement.
“This man violated the trust placed in him as an educator and caused lasting harm to a young victim,” said Danielle Jaramillo, chief deputy district attorney. “Our office will continue to hold accountable those who exploit and prey on children.”
Thomure’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the sentencing.
