C. Falls woman sentenced for prostitution

A Columbia Falls woman received a deferred sentence in Flathead County District Court Thursday after pleading guilty to forgery and prostitution in August.

Sonya Pitkin will serve no additional jail time, assuming she successfully completes three years of probation.

Pitkin, 22, originally was arrested by the Whitefish Police Department after she engaged in sexual intercourse in return for payment — about $400 each time — from Trego man Thomas Leone beginning in January 2009.

Leone was charged with prostitution as well.

In Montana, the criminal statute for prostitution includes both the person offering and the person receiving sex in exchange for compensation.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of misdemeanor prostitution in April and later received a suspended sentence.

The two met each other on an adult website where people network to form relationships that are often sexual in nature, according to court records.

Pitkin and a female accomplice also stole blank checks from Leone and cashed them in amount of $1,500 in 2009.

Judge Katherine Curtis issued a six-month sentence for two counts of misdemeanor prostitution, but suspended all jail time.

Pitkin also was ordered to repay $1,500 to Glacier Bank and a $1,000 fine for passing the fraudulent checks.