A 29-year-old Flathead County man accused of sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl and boy was sentenced to 15 years in Montana State Prison Thursday in District Court.

Adriel “Zack” Wilson had pleaded guilty to one count of felony sexual assault. The Flathead County Attorney’s Office agreed to dismiss two identical charges.

Deputy County Attorney Lori Adams asked District Judge Stewart Stadler to impose a 30-year sentence with 10 years suspended in light of the seriousness of the charge and the fact that two additional felonies were dismissed.

She said the victims’ family agreed with the decision to drop the charges contingent on Wilson’s guilty plea.

“They did express to me that this has affected their family,” Adams said.

Wilson’s attorney, Brent Getty, requested a 30-year sentence with 20 years suspended.

“We believe that it is sufficient for the crime for which Mr. Wilson has took responsibility,” Getty said.

Stadler’s decision landed between the two recommendations: a 30-year sentence with 15 years suspended and the requirement that Wilson complete sex offender treatment before becoming eligible for parole.

According to court documents, Wilson sexually assaulted the children between October 2009 and August 2010.

Charging documents also accuse him of forcing them to have sexual contact with a dog. Wilson was living at the same home as the children. The abuse began when they were 7 and 8 years old, according to court documents.

The mother reported the alleged sexual contact to the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office on Aug. 11 and Wilson subsequently was arrested.

She notified law enforcement after seeing Wilson leave the children’s bedroom. He told her he was “reading the children a bedtime story,” according to court documents.

The children later reported the abuse.

Wilson will remain in the Flathead County Detention Center, where he has been held since his arrest last year, until he is transported to Montana State Prison.

Reporter Eric Schwartz may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at [email protected].