Man Convicted Of Raping Woman, Assaulting Another

A 21-year-old man has been convicted of raping a woman and sexually assaulting another in Missoula.

A jury deliberated for about three hours Thursday before finding Joshua Jeremy Peltier guilty in both attacks, which occurred Nov. 26 and Dec. 1, 2010. Sentencing is expected at the end of March or in early April.

Prosecutors say Peltier knocked a 26-year-old woman from her bicycle and punched her repeatedly before shoving his hand down her pants and stealing her purse. In the second attack, he was accused of raping a 29-year-old woman who was walking her dog at 4 a.m.

Peltier was convicted of all six counts, including rape, sexual assault, attempted kidnapping, tampering with evidence and two counts of robbery.

He could face life in prison on the rape conviction alone.

Associated Press