I originally published this Jan. 27, 2015 in my discontinued column on Examiner.com.
Mikeal Shane Pruett, 55, of Stevensville, Montana, was sentenced to 200 years in prison for raping and impregnating his 11-year-old granddaughter.
Community members are furious and asking how Pruett had been able to become the sole guardian of his two granddaughters, ages 9 and 11, considering his past history of sex crimes. In 1980 Pruett was charged with 'taking indecent liberties' and in 1985 he was arrested for molesting a niece in Arco, Idaho. The 1985 case saw Pruett flee the state, only to have a bench warrant issued for his arrest two years later. Then, suddenly, in 1989 all charges were dropped. It was reported by ravallirepublic.com an investigator who interviewed Pruett's past victim accused Pruett molesting 'her over a three-year period of time by coming into her bedroom at night and committing sexual acts.'
Due to poor record keeping the bulk of paperwork regarding the past cases has disappeared.
The latest escapade and glimpse into a system which failed two children began when the 11-year-old, whose name will not be released for privacy reasons, was taken to a doctor for stomach pains in late June 2014. During the examination it was discovered the 11-year-old was 32-weeks pregnant.
The child was then taken for an interview to Emma's House, an organization that advocates for children who have been victims of abuse. Their website states they, "strive to reduce trauma and promote healing for children and their families." During the interview the director of Emma's House, Val Widmer, was told by the 11-year-old that she had sex with a 14-year-old boy at the Ravalli County Fair in the Summer of 2013. Widmer gently explained to the child that her story wasn't possible due to how pregnancies work. Pruett sat in the waiting room during the first interview.
Following the interview Pruett was arrested and formally charged with committing sex crimes against his granddaughter.
After the 11-year-old gave birth in August she was re-interviewed by Widmer. With Pruett no longer in the building and safely behind bars the girl confessed that it was indeed Pruett who was the father. The girl went on to explain that the story she told during her first interview was crafted by Pruett who threatened to hurt her if she told the truth. She gave horrific details into the abuse that she called, "the wrong thing." Eventually the 11-year-old began to fight against Pruett's sexual abuse, which then caused Pruette to 'go to couch and pout if he didn’t get what he wanted.'
The 11-year-old's story was corroborated by her 9-year-old sister. The 9-year-old said, "I've been keeping a secret. Now I want to tell." According to missoulian.com, the 9-year-old said she watched her sister being raped by her grandfather through a 'peeking hole.' The 9-year-old was also molested, but the details of her assault are not public record.
Pruett was sentenced under Jessica's Law on Jan. 21, 2015 to two 100 year sentences, to run consecutively. Meaning Pruett will serve one 100 year sentence, and if still alive will begin to serve the second. The law is named after Jessica Lunsford who was murdered in 2005.
Ravalli County Attorney Bill Fulbright said, "Everything about the defendant’s life and conduct in Ravalli County has earned him a 100-year sentence."
Pruett will be eligible for parole in 50 years, when he is 105 years old.
Thank you for reading. Please browse my other posts to read more of my original crime reports that I am only republishing on Steemit.