Charlo man faces up to 50 years for sexually assaulting minor
JEFF SMITH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 month, 3 weeks AGO
Ronald Paul Hansen
Jeff Smith is news director for Anderson Broadcasting and a contributor to the Lake County Leader. | July 15, 2026 12:00 AM
A Charlo man admitted to sexually assaulting a minor in the 20th Judicial District Court in Polson on July 1.
Ronald Paul Hansen, 35, entered a plea of guilty to two felony charges related to the incident.
The plea was entered as part of an agreement that will see a third felony charge dropped.
The agreement calls for the state recommending 25 years in the Montana State Prison on each of the two charges, with none of that time suspended. The defense reserves the right to ask for 25 years behind bars on each charge, with 25 years suspended. Both are recommending that sentences run consecutively to each other.
According to court records, the incident was reported on Nov. 9, 2025.
Judge Molly Owen set sentencing on Sept. 2. As of July 1, Hansen had served 234 days in the Lake County Jail.
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