MISSOULA – A 62-year-old Kalispell man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for years-long sexual abuse of his young stepdaughter.
Lawrence Sheehan had pleaded guilty earlier to transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. He was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy in Missoula.
Prosecutors say Sheehan sexually abused a girl over a seven year period in Montana, Idaho, New Mexico and Arizona. They say the abuse began when the girl was 12 and that she gave birth to Sheehan’s child at age 15.
Prosecutors say Sheehan maintained a transient lifestyle so he could abuse the girl without being caught. The girl was never allowed to attend school.
Sheehan is already serving 20 years on state convictions. The federal sentence will begin when he completes the state prison term.