JEFFERSON COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT

This Montana man admitted to four misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child. To protect the identity of his children, The Daily News is not publishing his name.

HELENA, Mont. — A Montana man accused of waterboarding four children as a learning experience for them has reached a plea deal with prosecutors in which he will receive probation.

Court records say the children were the Jefferson County man’s 9- and 12-year-old sons and two neighbor kids, ages 13 and 15.

The 42-year-old man was sentenced to two years’ probation after pleading guilty Friday to four misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

Court records say the man’s girlfriend at the time told authorities she walked in on him Dec. 5 as he simulated drowning his sons by pouring water over their faces.

Prosecutors allege two other children told a Child Protective Services that the man also had waterboarded them.

The Associated Press is withholding the man’s name because it doesn’t identify minors who are victims of crime or abuse, and releasing the man’s name would identify his sons.