20-Years in State Hospital for Woman Who Sexually Assaulted Ex

Samantha Ray Mears will spend the next 20 years in a state psychiatric hospital after a judge found her guilty of breaking into her ex-boyfriend’s home and raping him while wielding a machete. After raping the man, she urinated in his bed. Luckily, he managed to escape from the home to get help. Mears was 19-years old at the time of the 2018 attack.

The Attack

Mears broke into the man's Great Falls home in June 2018 while he was away. She hid behind his bedroom door until he returned. At this time, she popped out from behind the door with the machete in hand. She held the machete to his neck and forced him to remove his clothing.

Mears bit the victim on the arm several times, despite him repeatedly asking her to stop. She then climbed on top of her ex-boyfriend and sexually assaulted/ forced him to have sex with her. The man complied out of fear for his life.

After assaulting her ex-boyfriend, Mears sat on the bed holding the machete. The victim used his phone to photograph her with the weapon. She then urinated in his bed. At the same time, the victim managed to escape the house and called the police. She was charged with sexual assault without consent (the word ‘rape’ is not recognized or used in Montana law,) assault with a weapon, aggravated burglary, unlawful restraint, assault, and criminal mischief.

Prior Attack; Unfit to Stand Trial

Two months prior to this incident, Mears was charged after she strangled the same victim. She was deemed incompetent to stand trial on this charge. She was also initially determined to be unfit to stand trial on these charges, which caused several delays in the case.

District Judge Greg Pinski said during Mears sentencing that her inability to stay on her medication makes her a danger to other people. She was then placed in the custody of the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services.

While committed to the hospital, Mears must undergo sex offender therapy. She is classified as a tier 2 sex offender.

Help for Victims of Sexual Assault

If you are the victim of sexual assault, it is NOT your fault. Remember, help is available. Reach out to a trusted family member, friend, teacher, counselor, etc. You can also call the Helpline at 1-00-656-HOPE or use the RAINN mobile app. You are not alone. Seeking help can help you better cope with the trauma and effects of sexual assault.

Sexual Assault and Rape: Male Victims

Take a look at a few facts and statistics regarding sexual assault/rape against male victims.

• Every 68 seconds, another person becomes the victim of a sexual assault. That's over 463,000 assaults per year.
• 10% to 20% of all males will be sexually assaulted at some point in their lives
• 1 out of every 10 rape victims is male
• American Indians are more likely to experience a rape than any other ethnic group
• 1 in 71 men have been raped or experienced an attempted rape during their lifetime
• People aged 12 to 34 are at the greatest risk of becoming the victim of sexual assault.
• People who’ve experienced a sexual assault are 10x more likely to use drugs to help them cope with the trauma of this type of attack
• Victims of sexual assault/rape often experience psychological, emotional, and physical effects after an attack. Many victims face mental health illnesses including PTSD.

Resources & Additional Information:

If you want to read more about this case, the following links are available.

https://www.rainn.org/statistics/victims-sexual-violence

https://www.kpax.com/news/crime-and-courts/woman-sentenced-in-great-falls-to-20-years-for-rape