Teen charged with rape of disabled girl

A Columbia Falls teenager has been accused of a sex crime against a developmentally disabled female.

Ronald Braxton Dougherty, 19, is charged with sexual intercourse without consent after he allegedly forced a girl, then 15 years of age, to have sex with him sometime between Oct. 1, 2019, and Nov. 6, 2019.

Dougherty was booked into the Flathead County Detention Center April 10 before being released on his own recognizance April 13. He is scheduled to be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23, in Flathead County District Court.

Dougherty faces a term of 20 years to life in the Montana State Prison.

According to charging documents, the Columbia Falls Police Department received a report Nov. 6 about the assault. The girl suffers from developmental disabilities and cognitive impairment. She routinely sees a behavioral therapist.

On Nov. 6, the girl told the therapist she had sexual intercourse with an older man. The girl was interviewed by police and she said Dougherty was an acquaintance and they were together at a Columbia Falls residence.

The girl alleged Dougherty told her “we’re alone; we should have sex,” according to court documents. She said she did not want to, but he allegedly kept trying to convince her. She said Dougherty began to undress her, she became scared and just “stood there.”

A Columbia Falls police detective interviewed Dougherty Dec. 6, and he allegedly said he had sex with the girl. Also, other officers said Dougherty allegedly asked them several times what the ramifications would be for having sex with a person younger than 16 years of age.