Montana woman sentenced for sending sexually explicit messages to teenager

GREAT FALLS – A 41-year-old Montana woman has been sentenced for sending sexually explicit messages to a 15-year-old boy in 2015.

The Great Falls Tribune reported Kathi Pederson of Great Falls was sentenced Friday to 25 years with the Department of Corrections with 20 suspended.

She pleaded guilty in December to attempted sexual assault in a plea agreement in which prosecutors had recommended a 10-year suspended sentence. District Judge John Kutzman designated Pederson a Tier 1 sex offender and required her to undergo sex offender treatment.

Kutzman rejected an earlier agreement that would have allowed Pederson to avoid admitting guilt but acknowledge that prosecutors had enough evidence to gain a conviction. Kutzman said the community would have demanded different action if the gender roles were reversed.