An Evergreen man has been ordered to pay $1.126 million for his sexual relationship with a teenage girl. The girl's parents sued John Vollhaber, 53, for actual and punitive damages because of his involvement with the girl, who was 14 when it began.

In keeping with its policy of not identifying victims, the Inter Lake will not name the girl or her parents.

Vollhaber was charged with rape. Later he was arrested for allegedly attacking the girl's father in what officials believe was an attempt to kill him.

The civil suit was filed separately in District Judge Ted Lympus' court. On Dec. 11, he made his findings.

Between June 2002 and May 2003, Vollhaber engaged in sex with the girl, causing the family severe emotional distress "which no reasonable person could be expected to endure," Lympus ruled.

He awarded the family $26,500 for medical and mental health treatment costs for the girl, plus $100,000 for future expenses.

For Vollhaber's "reprehensible" conduct, Lympus ordered him to pay $1 million in punitive damages.

According to court documents, Vollhaber claims his net worth is zero.

He was charged with rape because of the age of the girl. Even though the girl said the relationship was consensual at first, Montana law presumes that no one under the age of 16 has the capacity to consent to sex.

Vollhaber was arrested in June on charges of violating a restraining order intended to keep him away from the girl.

He also was charged with solicitation for allegedly trying to persuade a woman to silence the girl because of the possible prison term he faces.

He was out of jail on bond in October when he allegedly ambushed her father at his home with a gun, a stun gun, and a knife. The father was outside his home to lock the garage when Vollhaber allegedly attacked him.

According to the criminal complaint against him, Vollhaber unsuccessfully zapped the father several times with the stun gun, placed a handgun against the man's head and "told him not to yell or he would shoot him."

The girl's mother called 911 and Vollhaber reportedly apologized, saying he is in love with the girl.

Sheriff's deputies arrested Vollhaber as he walked away from the home. Deputies found a police scanner, a bottle of water, a gun, magazines for the gun, a knife, and a stun gun in the area.

Vollhaber was charged with two felony counts of assault with a weapon and attempted assault with a weapon. If convicted of those charges, he faces up to 60 years in prison.

Represented by public defender Sean Hinchey, Vollhaber stands trial in March for the rape charge and in January for the assault charges.


Reporter Chery Sabol may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at csabol@dailyinterlake.com