Valier man, 59, charged in child prostitution sting

GREAT FALLS — A 59-year-old Valier man is charged with attempting to solicit child prostitution after police say he responded to an online ad for sex with girls who were “barely legal.”

Court records say Curtis Aaberg was arrested Tuesday after agreeing to pay $200 for several sex acts with a 12-year-old.

Aaberg made an initial court appearance Wednesday. His bail was set at $10,000. 

Prosecutors say Aaberg responded to the online ad and was told the available girls were 12 and 15 years old. He reportedly said that he didn’t want to go to jail, but prosecutors say he traveled to Great Falls for an encounter.

A public defender said Aaberg is the publisher and distributor of a newspaper in Pondera County, where he has lived since 1969. He has no criminal record.