Man sentenced for sex with a child
Darren Reid
A 51-year-old Columbia Falls man was sentenced to 10 years in Montana State Prison for having sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old child two years ago.
Darren Reid initially faced up to life or 4-100 years and a $50,000 fine for each felony count of sexual intercourse without consent and sexual assault. The latter charge was dropped after Reid pleaded guilty to the first charge and to additional misdemeanor charges relating to a DUI arrest also in 2010.
Flathead County District Court Judge Stewart Stadler sentenced Reid on Sept. 20 to 20 years with 10 suspended for felony sexual intercourse without consent. He also ordered Reid to pay a $750 fine and $650 for public defender fees.
According to court documents, Reid admitted to having sexual intercourse with the child at his home on Jellison Road and in the woods and providing her with vodka and marijuana.
The child said the sexual relationship began in July 2010 and continued until she was picked up as a runaway at Reid’s home in January 2011. She also said Reid had asked her to lie about the relationship, and that she and Reid had made plans to run away together.
For his part, Reid not only told the investigating detective that he could not stand to be physically separated from the child, and that he hoped to continue their relationship in the future, but he also asked the detective to pass messages on to the child.
Reid also faced a felony count of intimidation and misdemeanor counts of DUI, no insurance, no driver’s license and obstructing a peace officer following a traffic incident at Meadow Lake Boulevard and Fifth Street West, in Columbia Falls, on July 31, 2010, at about 8:48 p.m.
According to court records, when the Montana Highway Patrol trooper arrived, he found Reid’s car stuck in a ditch. Reid said he didn’t have insurance or a driver’s license and admitted to drinking “a lot” constantly for the past four days.
The trooper noticed empty beer cans in the car and Reid’s red watery eyes, slurred speech, unsteady feet and alcohol-tainted breath. When Reid failed a standard field sobriety test, he allegedly told the trooper, “I’m drunk,” and “Let’s go to prison.”
The situation changed after the trooper removed Reid’s dog from the car and arrested Reid. Reid allegedly became increasingly belligerent, with screaming, threats and intimidation.
The trooper video-recorded Reid once he was arrested and placed in the patrol car. Reid at that point became combative, kicked the vehicle door and told the trooper that he was a member of a “militia” that would kill the trooper while he was working.
Stadler sentenced Reid to three years, all suspended, for felony intimidation and six months, all but one day suspended, for DUI. Reid was also given credit for actual time served.