A man with a history of sexual assault dating back more than 30 years was recently arrested after allegedly trying to rape a woman in Lakeside.

Jeffrey Allen Westfall, 53, of Butte, is charged with attempted sexual intercourse without consent and aggravated assault.

According to court documents, at about 12:29 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, deputies from the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office were called to a motel in Lakeside. They spoke to a married couple and the woman said a man showed up at the motel. She unlocked the door and let him in, assuming he needed to get a room for the night.

The woman said as she tried to talk to the unknown man, later identified as Westfall, he punched her in the left eye and knocked her to the ground. The man then allegedly continued to hit her in the face and then forcibly removed her pants and underwear.

The woman said she believed the man was going to rape her and she began screaming for her husband to help.

The husband reported hearing his wife yelling and came out of the bedroom to find Westfall standing over his wife striking her in the face. The husband said he kicked Westfall in the back, knocking him against the counter. The man said Westfall then regained his footing and both grabbed at each other before Westfall ran from the motel.

Later the same day, deputies were called back to the motel for a report of a disorderly woman who refused to leave a room. When a deputy spoke to the woman, she said Westfall had left her at the motel and was driving a silver colored Audi.

The husband of the woman who was assaulted said the suspect had left in a silver colored Audi. When the deputy watched video footage, he saw Westfall allegedly enter the motel lobby, punch the woman and then leave when her husband confronted him.

A detective investigating the case reviewed Westfall’s criminal history and learned he is a registered sex offender living in Butte. The detective then spoke to a Silver Bow County investigator who said Westfall is a suspect in a burglary and sexual assault case after allegedly attempting to enter a retirement home and assault elderly women.

According to a May 5 Montana Standard story, Westfall was arrested on a felony complaint of attempted sexual intercourse without consent, following a report that he was wandering into rooms and allegedly asked one resident if she wanted a massage at Big Sky Senior Living.

Officers said when they responded to the facility at 10:30 p.m. Monday, they found Westfall in a resident's room.

According to staff, Westfall had entered or attempted to enter at least three rooms in the facility.

According to court documents, Westfall has been convicted of 13 felonies, including rape, attempted rape, burglary, felony DUI, possession of stolen property and failure to register as a sexual offender.

Westfall is listed in the Montana Department of Justice sex offender website as a sexually violent predator. He was sentenced June 1, 1987, for the rape of a 31-year-old woman in Everett, Washington.

Westfall is being held on $500,000 bail in the Flathead County Detention Center. His next court appearance is set for 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24.

Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 758-4441 or shindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.