Tribal Officer Charged with Sexual Assault

GREAT FALLS — A Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services officer has denied federal charges filed after a woman said he forced her to have sex with him in his patrol vehicle to avoid going to jail.

The Great Falls Tribune reports 56-year-old Michael Connelly Sr. is charged with sexual abuse, deprivation of rights under color of law and giving a false statement to a federal officer.

Connelly was indicted on May 1 and arraigned on June 6 in Great Falls. He was appointed a federal public defender.

Prosecutors say the alleged offense happened in September 2012 in or near Browning.

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