Man sentenced for posting phony sex ads

A Kalispell man who posted phony Craiglist personal ads that falsely claimed to be naked pictures of women who had rejected him was sentenced Thursday to three years of probation.

Mathew Cullen Bartlett, 36, made multiple internet posts that included a woman’s full legal name, face, her personal contact information and a nude photo purported to be the woman, according to court documents. Five alleged victims were named in the case, with the majority living in the Flathead area.

Bartlett’s attorney Peter Leander testified that prior to his crimes, Bartlett had lived “an exemplary life,” including an extensive military background that included two tours in Iraq. Bartlett and his attorney allege that a combination of post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from military service, along with a mixture of alcohol and prescription Oxycodone, led Bartlett to black out and make a series of bad decisions that he was ashamed of and regretted.

Bartlett testified that he had been in counseling and had ceased taking prescriptions drugs that allegedly were causing him to blackout during the time he committed his crimes. In a letter to the county attorney, Bartlett describes his action as an “alcohol induced mistake during the time of extreme mental distress” and asked for “a chance to live a productive life while taking responsibility for what happened.”

While Flathead District Court Judge Amy Eddy seemed sympathetic to Bartlett’s wishes, she also acknowledged his victims, saying “We can’t undo what was done to them.”

One victim submitted a letter describing Bartlett as a monster. She said the situation seemed at first “pretty normal” — being approached by an interested male and exchanging phone numbers, realizing she just wanted to be friends and letting him down easy — but it turned into a life-altering incident.

The victim stated she received an alarming amount of “creepy and disgusting messages,” and the posting, which also reportedly included her work information, made her feel unsafe.

“All of these men knew what I looked like, where I worked and a lot of details about me, and I knew nothing about them,” the victim stated. “This was not a joke or a prank or mistake. This was a crude criminal act.” Bartlett acknowledged “inexcusable and disgusting behavior,” in his letter to Flathead County Attorney Andrew Clegg.

He pleaded no contest to two misdemeanors and felony charge of solicitation of privacy in communications as part of a plea agreement.

Judge Eddy allowed each of the charges to be deferred, which means they will be removed from Bartlett’s record if he remains law abiding through the course of his sentence.

Eddy also advised him if he breaks the law during his sentence, the deferred ruling would allow a judge to go back and give him the maximum sentence under law, which is in this case, five years in Montana State Prison.

Bartlett must also continue attending counseling as part of his sentence conditions.

Breeana Laughlin can be reached at 758-4441 or blaughlin@dailyinterlake.com.