GLASGOW- Valley County sheriff’s deputy Luke Strommen has been charged with felony sexual abuse of a child.
According to the Glasgow Courier, court documents allege that the then-17-year old victim met Strommen in 2014, and the two engaged in an “intimate” relationship for about one year. She met Strommen while he was on duty during a traffic stop.
The two communicated via phone, text, and email while also meeting for sexual encounters. The victim said that the majority of the time that they met, Strommen was in uniform and on duty.
Court documents state: “The victim described the defendant as ‘very sly, conniving, and power-hungry,’ however she confirmed that her intimate involvement with the defendant was consensual.”
The victim provided investigators with the cell phone that was used in 2014 to communicate with Strommen. An analysis of the phone revealed numerous conversations and images between the victim and defendant.
Court documents also state that an agent with the Montana Department of Criminal Investigation corroborated Strommen’s tactics and behavior with statements by multiple witnesses and other involved parties.
Strommen has not been arrested and is scheduled to appear in District Court in Glasgow at 1:15 pm Tuesday.
Strommen had been running for Valley County sheriff before dropping out of the race in August.
Related: Valley County undersheriff withdraws from sheriff’s race in Montana
