Ex-Montana County Youth Officer Sentenced For Sex Assault

A judge has given a former Missoula County Youth Court officer a 6-year deferred sentence for felony sexual assault of a 13-year-old.

The Missoulian newspaper reports that prosecutor Ole Olson requested a 20-year sentence with 15 years suspended. Mental health experts testified the community was the best place for Vayeeleng Moua to receive treatment. District Court Judge James Manley said during sentencing that the shame Moua bought to his Hmong community also was punishment. The judge says he worked alongside the Hmong in Vietnam and admired their culture.

Prosecutors say Moua repeatedly sexually abused the girl in 2012 and 2013. Two of her aunts testified that Moua touched them inappropriately when they were teenagers more than 15 years ago, after Moua and his then-13-year-old wife had a child.