Box Elder man convicted of multiple rapes, assaults

Dallas Lawrence, 32, of Box Elder, was convicted Wednesday of two rapes, two strangulations, two assaults with intent to commit murder and assault with a deadly weapon. Lawrence, in September of 2013, stabbed a woman in the calf. He was in a relationship with her at the time, and when the woman was taken to Northern Montana Hospital, she told doctors that she was in an abusive relationship, and Lawrence tried to break her arms and legs to keep her from leaving him.

According to a press release from United States Attorney Michael W. Cotter, in March, he strangled her with a humidifier cord and often controlled her, forcing her to stay in her room or deciding where she could go and who she could be around.

He strangled her again in May after beating her and asking her if she wanted to die fast or slow, as he did the first time. He strangled her until she blacked out and told her after she came to that he thought he killed her and was going to put her body in a crawlspace until he could find somewhere to bury it.

His three-day trial at the Missouri River Federal Courthouse in Great Falls ended with him now facing a maximum penalty of life in prison for the counts of rape, 20 years for the counts of assault with intent to commit murder and 10 years for the strangulations and assault with a dangerous weapon. Each count carries a fine of $250,000.