Convicted rapist returned to prison

A Big Arm man, on probation stemming from a rape conviction in 2006, had the suspended portion of his sentence revoked in District Court in Polson Nov. 13.

Judge Molly Owen re-sentenced Byron Henry Tenas, 39, to five years in the Montana State Prison for violating terms of probation.

It’s the second time Tenas was sentenced on a revocation. The first was in 2012 when he was given a 15-year term then, with five years suspended, according to Lake County Attorney James Lapotka.

Tenas was initially committed to the Montana Department of Corrections on March 12, 2007, to 20 years with 15 years suspended. The sentence was handed down by the late Judge C.B. McNeil.

According to court records, on Dec. 5, 2005, law enforcement was called to St. Joseph Medical Center on a complaint that a woman had been raped. The victim told the responding officer that she was asleep at a residence on Turtle Lake Road and was awakened by someone having sex with her.

The woman indicated that she recognized the person as Tenas, a long-time family friend. The woman immediately left and was picked up by a passerby who brought her to the hospital.

In arguing for the five-year prison term imposed last Wednesday, Lapotka told the court that Tenas absconded from probation and dropped out of court-ordered sex offender treatment.

Judge Owen gave Tenas credit for having already served 58 days in jail.