Plea deal reached in child abuse case

A plea agreement has been reached in the case of a 38-year-old Columbia Falls man accused of sexually abusing two young girls in Columbia Falls.

Adam Netz had faced up to 100 years in prison for each of two felony sexual assault charges. He pleaded not guilty to the charges on March 14.

According to court documents, two Columbia Falls police officers investigated a Jan. 13, 2013, report by a landlord who said a tenant told him her young daughters had been sexually assaulted.

The mother agreed to a forensic interview with her 11 and 12 year old daughters. Both young girls allegedly described how Netz had molested them. Netz allegedly admitted to some of the acts in a later interview.

In a pre-trial agreement, the county attorney’s office and Netz’s attorney agreed to recommend to Flathead County District Court Judge Heidi Ulbricht that Netz be sentenced to 20 years in prison with 13 years suspended for each count to run concurrently.

Netz would also be ordered to make restitution, complete a psychological evaluation at state expense, comply with recommended treatment and complete sexual offender programs before being eligible for parole.

Netz has a sentencing mitigation heaing scheduled for March 20.