Jury convicts Mission man of rape, child sex abuse
JEFF SMITH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 months, 2 weeks AGO
Christopher Sands
Jeff Smith is news director for Anderson Broadcasting and a contributor to the Lake County Leader. | July 30, 2026 12:00 AM
A St. Ignatius man is facing a maximum 500 years in prison after being convicted of abusing children.
The trial for Christopher Michael Sands, 47, began in Polson District Court on Monday, July 20, and finished with a guilty verdict on all charges a day later, on Tuesday afternoon. The jury convicted Sands on two counts of sexual intercourse without consent, two counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual abuse of children.
The two victims were minors at the time of the offenses which occurred between October 2015 and June 2017. He was arrested and charged in August 2025, and released after posting bail of $50,000.
Judge Molly Owen presided over the trial and set sentencing for Oct. 28. Sands was remanded to the Lake County Detention Center until sentencing.
ARTICLES BY JEFF SMITH
Mission man sentenced to 100 years for sexual abuse of children
Christopher Michael Sands, 47, was sentenced to the Montana Department of Corrections for 100 years with 75 years suspended on each of two counts of sexual intercourse without consent and one count of sexual abuse of children, to run concurrently to each other.
Kalispell man accused of attempting to strangle driver
A 20-year-old Kalispell man is accused of attempting to choke the driver of a vehicle, endangering the lives of the occupants.
Polson woman accused of assaulting children
Katherine Nicole Harner, 36, entered a plea of not guilty in Polson District Court on Oct. 22 to felony charges of strangulation of a partner or family member and criminal endangerment.