C. Falls daycare worker charged with sexual assault

A Columbia Falls daycare worker accused of molesting two young girls turned himself in to authorities Tuesday morning.

Pete Anthony Ampudia, 48, was charged Monday with two counts of sexual intercourse without consent and two counts of sexual assault, all felonies.

During an initial appearance Tuesday in Flathead County Justice Court, Ampudia was ordered held on $100,000 bail.

Prosecutors allege Ampudia inappropriately touched two 5-year-old girls who attended the Little Engine That Could daycare center between April 2003 and April 2008. The abuse charges were the result of a four-month investigation, according to the Flathead County Sheriff's Office.

Ampudia's wife has operated a daycare facility from the couple's Sweebee Lane residence since the late 1990s, but Ampudia has worked there for only the last few years. He was involved in the day-to-day operation of the daycare during that time.

The alleged abuse occurred during or immediately after nap times, according to court records.

Each of the two girls disclosed the alleged abuse to their mothers, who then notified the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services and the Flathead County Sheriff's Office.

Ampudia, however, maintains his innocence.

"He's completely devastated by this," said Ampudia's attorney, Julianne Hinchey, adding that she expects the case to go to trial.

Ampudia already has passed a lie detector test, said Hinchey, who accused the state of failing to turn over documents pertaining to the case and being secretive about its investigation.

Ampudia had no previous criminal history, according to investigators. He is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 28. If convicted, Ampudia faces up to 400 years in prison and a $200,000 fine.

Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com