ANDY TALLMAN

A Missoula man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for a rape charge from sexually assaulting a minor in 2017.

Mikah Rene Banales, 31, pleaded guilty in May to one count of felony sexual intercourse without consent. A second count was dismissed as part of a plea agreement. The charge carries a maximum of 100 years in prison.

Banales appeared before Missoula District Court Judge Jason Marks on Thursday morning for sentencing.

According to charging documents, Banales plied the survivor with drugs and alcohol and sexually assaulted her while she was drunk. Starting when she was 14, he progressed from inappropriate touching to sexual intercourse over several months. Under Montana law, children under the age of 16 cannot consent to sex.

The survivor submitted a victim imp

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