Malta Man pleads guilty to sexual assault, gets 12 years

On June 30, Daryl Demarais was found guilty of sexual assault, a felony, and was sentenced to 12 years in the Montana Department of Corrections with all but five years suspended.

Demarais made his initial appearance in Phillips County Court on November 12 of 2013 when he entered a plea of not guilty. On March 25 of this year, the court reviewed a plea bargain agreement with the defendant and his council, according to court records, when Demarais changed his plea to guilty.

Demarais will receive credit for 235-days that he spent incarcerated waiting trial. The court recommended that Demarais be placed in a facility where he can complete Phase I and Phase II of sex offender treatment while incarcerated. Upon release, the court recommended that the defendant be placed in a pre-release facility where he would have the opportunity to complete Phase III of sex offender treatment. The court also recommended that Demarais receive a mental health assessment and a chemical dependency evaluation to address both his mental and chemical dependency issues.

Among the 52 conditions of the plea, Demarais is prohibited from using, owning, possessing or controlling any firearms, is prohibited from gambling, prohibited from using or possessing any alcohol or illegal drugs, surrender to the court any registry identification card issued under the Medical Marijuana Act and not have contact with any individual under the age of 18 unless accompanied by an appropriately trained, responsible adult.