A judge has rejected a plea agreement as too lenient for a Kalispell man accused of repeatedly raping a girl from the time she was 11.
Prosecutors and the defense attorney had recommended a sentence with no prison time for 49-year-old Anthony Joseph Clouse.
The victim, now 27, says she approved of the sentence because she wanted Clouse to admit guilt.
But Flathead District Judge Stewart Stadler rejected that deal Thursday, saying he believes Clouse should be adequately punished.
The Daily Inter Lake reports Stadler instead sentenced Clouse to 20 years in prison, with 10 years suspended.
Clouse was charged in 1999 with sexual intercourse without consent and sexual assault after the victim reported he had molested and assaulted from when she was 11 until about 16 years old.