A Kalispell man broke down in tears in Flathead District Court on Wednesday and appeared to be in a state of emotional distress as he confessed to sexually assaulting two young girls in Lawrence Park on Aug. 18, 2015.

Christopher Malson, 26, pleaded guilty to two counts of felony sexual assault.

According to court documents, two sisters, ages 3 and 5, were playing in the park on Aug. 18 when Malson stepped from behind a tree and asked them to play with a “toy” as he exposed himself and asked them to touch him.

“I just want the best opportunity to be fixed,” Malson said as he cried and apologized for taking the court’s time. “I wanted to admit this for a long time and I am sorry.”

Malson said he was “scared to death” during the proceedings.

Judge Amy Eddy explained the sentence that is recommended as part of the agreement.

“It’s a 30-year sentence, 15 years at Montana State Prison and 15 years suspended,” Eddy said.

Eddy set sentencing for June 9.

The assault happened after Malson was booked and released on bond in January 2015 on misdemeanor indecent exposure charges for a string of sex-related incidents involving children in Kalispell.

 According to court documents, Malson’s exposure spree began on Feb. 5, 2014, when a 14-year-old girl walked past Malson’s home. Malson got the girl’s attention by knocking on his window and exposing himself.

On April 3, 2014, four young children, including two 9-year-old girls, said they were walking in Kalispell, stopped to inspect a fire hydrant wrapped with a T-shirt and heard loud banging on the window of a house. They looked up and allegedly saw Malson pull down his pants and make a rude gesture with his middle finger.

On May 2, Malson asked one of the 9-year-old girls to get in his car as she was walking home from school.

On April 21, Malson allegedly pulled up to an 11-year-old girl walking home from school and told her, “Come here. I’d like to see you naked.”

Reporter Megan Strickland can be reached at 758-4459 or mstrickland@dailyinterlake.com.