A 21-year-old Columbia Falls man awaits sentencing after entering an Alford plea to raping a 15-year-old girl in 2016.

Dylan Prowers Delventhal entered an Alford plea to a single count of sexual intercourse without consent during a hearing in Flathead County District Court on May 22.

An Alford plea is used by a defendant who proclaims he is innocent of the crime, but admits that the prosecution has enough evidence to prove that he is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

According to charging documents, Delventhal was 18 when he met the victim in June of 2016 and pressured her into having sex with him.

During a forensic interview with police, the victim stated that Delventhal asked her to have sex with him several times and that he “threw a fit” every time she said no. She finally agreed to his request, but changed her mind and told Delventhal to stop as he was undressing her.

In a police interview with Delventhal, he admitted to having sex with the victim, but claimed he did not know she was 15.

After reaching a plea deal, prosecutors will be recommending a six-year deferred sentence at Delventhal’s sentencing hearing in July.

According to Montana law, Delventhal’s offense can carry a maximum sentence of up to life imprisonment or by imprisonment in the state prison for a term of not less than 2 years or more than 100 years, along with a maximum $50,000 fine.