Man pleads not guilty to alleged sex crimes

A Whitefish man who already pleaded not guilty to felony sexual assault for allegedly molesting a child for nearly three years has entered not guilty pleas to an additional two counts of the same crime in the same case.

Bruce Frey, 58, previously was convicted in 1984 of burning down the Whitefish High School gymnasium in 1977.

The new case initially was filed in 2010, alleging Frey molested a girl from the ages of 6 to 8 almost every other day, touching her sexually over her clothing between 2004 and 2006, touching her under her clothes during the final incident, which took place during a camping trip with the girl and her mother.

A new document filed last month by the Flathead County Attorney’s Office charged two additional counts of felony sexual assault, alleging Frey also molested the first victim’s sister and the daughter of a friend of the girls’ mother.

The document claims that Frey began touching the second girl sexually when she was roughly 11 years old, at one point climbing in bed with her and telling her he wished he could have sex with her. It also alleges he provided her and her older sister with alcohol.

That victim reportedly told police she believes Frey may have also done things to her older sister.

According to the court document, Frey began molesting the third victim when she was 12 years old, grabbing her over her clothes or lifting her shirt and pulling her pajama bottoms down. When the victim was 13, Frey allegedly molested her under her clothing.

She estimated Frey touched her inappropriately more than 50 times over a two-year period.

If convicted of all three counts, Frey faces between four and 400 years or up to four life terms in the Montana State Prison as well as a fine of up to $150,000.

Frey currently is released after posting a $10,000 bond that previously had been reduced from $50,000.