Box Elder Man Pleads Guilty to Child Sexual Abuse After Victim’s Family Allowed Him to Stay in Home

GREAT FALLS — A Box Elder man pleaded guilty today to sexual abuse charges stemming from a relationship with an underage girl on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, according to U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme.

Peter Maxwell Houle, 35, admitted to sexual abuse of a minor in federal court and now faces up to 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and five years to a lifetime of supervised release.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided over the proceedings and will determine Houle’s sentence after considering federal sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is scheduled for October 9, 2025. Houle remains detained pending further proceedings.

Details of the Case

According to court documents, law enforcement became aware of the case in December 2023 when officers were alerted to a possible sexual relationship involving an underage victim, identified as Jane Doe.

During a forensic interview, the victim disclosed that her relationship with Houle began around late June or early July 2022, when she was 15 years old and Houle was 34.

The victim told investigators that she and Houle communicated through Facebook Messenger, where she informed him of her age. Despite knowing she was 15, Houle allegedly asked her over the messaging platform if she wanted to have sex with him.

Around July 4, 2022, Houle went to the victim’s home where they had sexual intercourse for the first time, according to court documents.

Ongoing Relationship

The sexual relationship continued throughout the summer of 2022, with Houle eventually moving into the victim’s home in August 2022. Court documents indicate that the victim’s family was aware of the relationship and disapproved but allowed Houle to stay in exchange for helping with household tasks.

The victim turned 16 in 2023 while the sexual relationship was still ongoing, according to the prosecution.

Pattern of Cases

The case marks the second child sexual abuse prosecution from Box Elder in recent days. On June 5, Brian Lee Bigbow, 48, was sentenced to 68 months in prison for sexually abusing a child, highlighting what federal prosecutors describe as ongoing efforts to address crimes against children on Montana’s tribal lands.

Investigation and Prosecution

The FBI conducted the investigation into the case, while the U.S. Attorney’s Office handled the prosecution.

The case highlights ongoing federal jurisdiction over serious crimes committed on tribal lands, where federal authorities often step in to prosecute cases involving sexual abuse and other major offenses.