A 41-year-old Anaconda man, Christopher Boudreau, is in the Missoula County Detention Center on a $150,000 bond after appearing in Missoula Justice Court on Friday charged with two felony counts of Sexual Abuse of Children.
The affidavit of probable cause states that Boudreau initiated contact with a person he believed to be a 14-year-old minor female for the purpose of meeting her and having illegal sexual contact.
Deputy Missoula County Attorney Mark Handelman appeared for the state and asked Justice of the Peace Landee Holloway for bail to be set at $100,000.
“If it pleases Your Honor, we request bail be set at $100,000,” began Handelman. Should he post or be otherwise released the state requests that he have no contact with any minors, that he remain in his home county which I believe to be Anaconda Deer Lodge, except for court appearances. There will be no possession of devices capable of internet (access).”
Handelman acknowledged the fact that Boudreau thought he was communicating with a minor child, even though he was actually communicating with a Missoula County Sheriff’s Office detective posing as a minor. Handelman asked for the high bail to protect the community.
“First and foremost, one that is pretty standard for these types of cases, the nature of the offense is easily repeatable and pretty difficult to detect even if there is pretrial supervision,” he said. “Furthermore, he is a flight risk. He does not live in this county. At least as part of his employment is ‘gig’ type employment, meaning DoorDash and what not, and he goes to other cities for that which just expands his hunting grounds.”
Handelman pointed out other reasons for the high bail amount.
“Further reason of flight risk is that he's well aware of what's going on as those text messages with Jane Doe indicate in terms of the consequences of this (activity). He clearly doesn't want to go to prison. He told fictitious Jane Doe as much. One of the texts he sent was quote, ‘I'd want to do anything you want to do as long as you know you don't have to and as long as you know, you'd have to be quiet because I don't want to go to prison, LOL.”
After Boudreau asked to be released on his own recognizance so that he could care for his ailing mother, Judge Holloway not only granted Handelman’s request for bail; she increased it.
“Based upon what I've heard here today in the courtroom and the allegations, they're very concerning about who potentially could be a victim out there,” said Judge Holloway. “With regards to the allegations, it's unfortunate the information you're providing to the court with regards to caretaking for your mother, however, I will set bail in the amount of $150,000. Should you post that bond you would be placed on GPS monitoring and you would be on pretrial supervision.”
Boudreau was remanded to the Missoula County Detention Center to await his next court appearance while will be in Missoula District Court for felony arraignment.
