A Kalispell man charged for allegedly propositioning his underage niece for sexual favors in 2023 received a suspended prison sentence last month.  

Johnathon Daniel Fritz, 37, pleaded not guilty to felony sexual abuse of children at his Jan. 9, 2025 arraignment in Flathead County District Court. But he took a deal in December that saw him plead guilty to an amended charge of felony attempted sexual assault.  

Prosecutors agreed to recommend Fritz receive a suspended 10-year sentence to Montana State Prison as part of the deal.  

Judge Heidi Ulbricht stuck to the terms of the agreement at Fritz's Jan. 15 sentencing, giving him credit for one day of time served.  

Fritz allegedly discussed pornography and genitalia with his two minor nieces while hosting them at his home on Aug. 18, 2023. He later asked one if he could touch her genitalia, according to court documents.  

The girl refused and immediately told a friend, court documents said. The friend told their father, who told the girls' mother in turn.  

She picked the two girls up soon after and alerted the Flathead County Sheriff's Office the next day, court documents said.  

Fritz allegedly acknowledged the wrongdoing to the girls' mother.  

"I don't want you to call the police, but I won't be mad if you do," he allegedly told her. "I know what it will do to me ... I've already ruined my future for what I said to her." 

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or [email protected].