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Final Sex Sting Suspect Pleads Not Guilty

Daniel Anthony Hall appeared in Flathead County District Court on Sept. 11

By Justin Franz

The last of six men who were netted in a sex sting operation last month has pleaded not guilty to the felony charge in district court.

Daniel Anthony Hall, 33, appeared in Flathead County District Court on Sept. 11 on charges of sexual abuse of children. Hall was one of six men arrested in late August as part of a sex sting by undercover Internet Crimes Against Children agents. The other five men all pleaded not guilty in court on Sept. 4.

According to court documents, Hall responded to an online ad soliciting a man to help a 12-year-old girl “become a woman.” Hall began texting with an undercover agent who was pretending to be a woman setting up the sexual encounter with the young girl. Over the course of several days, Hall sent numerous explicit text messages and eventually he was given an address and instructed to meet the girl. Hall traveled to the home and was confronted by officers.

Hall is scheduled to stand trial in March.

Felony sexual abuse of children carries a maximum penalty of 100 years in prison and a maximum fine of $50,000. Offenders are also required to successfully complete the educational, cognitive and behavioral phases of the sexual offender treatment program.