Man sentenced for statutory rape of teen 15

The Daily Inter Lake

A middle-aged man convicted of having sex with a 15-year-old girl was sentenced Thursday in Flathead County District Court to 10 years in prison.

After reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors, Michael Anthony Lord, 39, pleaded guilty in October to one count of sexual intercourse without consent.

Lord was sentenced to 20 years in Montana State Prison with 10 of them suspended.

Even though the act was reportedly consensual, no one in Montana under 16 is considered capable of consenting to sex.

According to court documents, the statutory rape occurred sometime in early 2006.

Lord lived with the girl's family before being asked to leave for questionable behavior with her.

The rape occurred after Lord moved out, during one of several visits the girl made to his apartment. A DNA test later confirmed she had become pregnant with his child.

While in prison, Lord will be required to complete a program for sexual offenders before becoming eligible for parole.