47 year-old Erik Nugent stood before Judge Marie Anderson on Thursday charged with sexual abuse of children, sexual assault, sexual intercourse without consent, and endangering the welfare of a child.

According to court documents, Nugent committed numerous sexual acts with minor children and exposed them to methamphetamine and other drugs over a period of several years.

Deputy Missoula County Attorney Brittany Santorno asked Judge Anderson that Nugent be held on $150,000 bail.

"It is alleged that he has been feeding methamphetamine and ecstasy to underage females for years in order to have sex with them," Santorno said. "This is an ongoing pattern of behavior and his victims range in age between 12 and 17 years of age. This also includes abusing children even younger than that. This defendant has admitted this information to several witnesses and many of his victims have confirmed."

Santorno said the defendant should be held on $150,000 bail.

"It's very evident that this is a heinous crime spanning over several years, and for that we request that bail amount and that he have no contact with any minors."

Judge Anderson agreed and set bail at $150,000. Nugent was remanded to the Missoula County Jail.

The formal charges are all felonies, and include sexual assault, sexual abuse of children, sexual intercourse without consent, endangering the welfare of a child, and possession of material. All told, the maximum penalties add up to over 400 years in prison.

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