Two men face charges of sexual assault
JEFF SMITH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 months, 4 weeks AGO
Christopher Michael Sands
Jeff Smith is news director for Anderson Broadcasting and a contributor to the Lake County Leader. | August 28, 2025 12:00 AM
Judge Molly Owen set a trial date of Feb. 2, 2026, for two men, accused in separate matters of assaulting children.
Christopher Michael Sands, 46, entered a plea of not guilty to five counts of sexual abuse, with the victim under the age of 16. Court records indicate the alleged abuse occurred in St. Ignatius in 2015 and in 2017.
Separately and unrelated, Dayton Ray Best, 18, entered a plea of not guilty to sexual abuse of a child. The charges stem from an incident in Arlee in July when Best allegedly showed a minor inappropriate photos.
Sands remains in custody with bail set at $50,000; Best is being held on $75,000 bail.
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Mission man sentenced for third sexual assault
A St. Ignatius man who admitted to sexually assaulting a person was sentenced in District Court in Polson to the Montana State Prison for five years with two years suspended.
Mission man sentenced for sexual assault
A St. Ignatius man who admitted to sexually assaulting a person was sentenced in District Court in Polson on Jan. 14 to the Montana State Prison for five years with two years suspended. Paul Vincent Tatto, 74, pleaded guilty Sept. 10 to sexual assault, third offense, felony.
Three District Court cases set for trial in July
Three separate criminal matters are set for trial in July. Two involve alleged burglaries and a third involves an alleged domestic disturbance. All three suspects appeared before Judge Molly Owen in District Court in Polson on Jan. 14.