Missoula man charged with alleged rape of minor

Mikah Rene Banales, 30, is charged with two counts of sexual intercourse without consent, a felony. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 100 years in prison and a $50,000 fine for each count.

According to the indictment filed by Assistant District Attorney Brielle Lande, Banales began sexually abusing the victim while the two were intoxicated and continued to do so on multiple occasions. The abuse progressed from inappropriate touching to sexual intercourse over a period of several months, according to the allegations.

According to the indictment, the victim was 15 years old at the time of the abuse. Under Montana law, children under 16 are not able to give consent.

Both Banales’ accuser and his former partner told a Missoula Police Department detective that his partner came home in the middle of a work shift and caught the two naked having sex, the indictment says.

His former partner reportedly told investigators that Banales physically attacked her when she discovered the two together. He held her down, dragged her to a sofa and begged her not to report the incident.

Banales’ former partner was arrested for assaulting a family member after he allegedly accused her of threatening to report a “false rape.”

When the detective called Banales to discuss a relationship between him and a minor, he reportedly responded, “Oh God,” and declined an interview.

Banales is being held in the Missoula County Jail on $100,000 bail.

He had an initial appearance on Thursday. District Judge John Larson scheduled his arraignment for August 8, when Banales can enter his guilty plea.