Convicted C. Falls rapist sentenced
A convicted rapist from Columbia Falls on May 3 was sentenced to 30 years in Montana State Prison with 15 years suspended.
Richard Becker, 24, entered an Alford plea and was convicted of one count of sexual intercourse without consent and pleaded guilty to one count of perjury.
Flathead District Court Judge Robert Allison sentenced Becker to 25 years with 10 suspended for the rape charge and a consecutive five years with all five suspended for perjury. He also required that Becker complete phases one and two of sex offender treatment in Montana State Prison before he would become eligible for parole.
In accordance with a plea agreement with the state, in exchange for an Alford plea to one count of rape, a second rape charge against Becker was dismissed.
BECKER’S VICTIM, identified as S.N., took the stand prior to sentencing to address the court and her rapist.
She testified that as a result of the incident, she has been in and out of treatment, was diagnosed with anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and flashbacks and attempted suicide.
“You ruined my life more than I can ever explain,” she said to Becker. “The only thing I can thank you for is looking me in the eye, and the eyes I’m looking into are the eyes of a monster.”
S.N. asked Judge Allison to give Becker the longest prison sentence available.
“Shame on you for taking away my innocence and for taking away everything I believed in,” she told Becker before leaving the stand.
The victim’s great-grandmother also testified to the effects Becker’s actions had on her.
“I watched a very, very smart young lady almost destroy herself because of what he did to her,” she said. “You’ve taken a part of her.”
According to court documents, the victim told authorities that Becker followed her into the bathroom at a party they both attended in July 2014 and kissed her. She stated the situation escalated when she told him to stop and began to resist. She stated he then attempted to take off her clothes and began kissing and touching her over her clothing.
She said he then removed his pants and forced her to perform oral sex on him before stripping off her clothes and raping her.
Court documents state that in an interview with law enforcement, Becker admitted to knowing the victim was 15 at the time but initially denied having sexual contact with her. He later admitted that he had her perform oral sex and that they had sexual intercourse.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY Travis Ahner stated the perjury charge came about when Becker lied in court in defense of another man who later admitted to raping an 11-year-old girl.
According to Ahner, a state-mandated psycho-sexual evaluation of Becker noted he exhibited a number of deviant sexual behaviors and recommended he be designated a tier-two sex offender.
Allison amended Becker’s conditions of release, restricting him from possessing a cell phone and waiving various court fees due to the fact that Becker’s designation as a sex offender will likely make prospects of employment slim once he is released from prison.
Becker received credit for nearly 700 days of time served.
Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.