Man Waterboarded Kids: William Province Violently Tortures Four Young Boys as 'Learning Experience,' Assaults Girlfriend, Arrested

Reports confirm that a man from Montana was recently charged with misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child after admitting that he waterboarded four young kids. William Province pleaded guilty to the charges, and claimed that he used the dangerously violent "punishment" technique on his two sons and two other neighborhood boys as a "learning experience" tool. Province's (now ex) girlfriend caught him in the shocking torture act and contacted police. According to the woman, Province assaulted her when she tried to stop him. After a short manhunt he was arrested and thrown in jail.

According to court documents, the 42-year-old Jefferson County, Montana native admitted to carrying out the torturous act (which simulates drowning) on his 9 and 12-year-old sons as well as two other neighborhood children (aged 13 and 15). Apparently, Province thought that such torture would teach the boys a lesson.

Province's former girlfriend (who wishes to remain unidentified) was the first to notify authorities about Province's seedy form of punishment. He allegedly broke her wrist and some fingers when she first tried to stop him from waterboarding the children back on December 5. Court documents reveal that Province straddled each boy with his hands over the child's face and mouth and dumped water on their faces to simulate drowning. He described the act as a "learning experience" for the boys. Police launched a hunt for Province after his girlfriend contacted the police - he was eventually arrested at Helena Montana Airport after returning from a trip to Alaska.

Waterboarding is an extreme form of torture which can result in oxygen deprivation to the brain and lungs.

After being arrested, Province pleaded guilty in court to four misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child. He was slapped with two years' probation. In keeping the plea agreement, prosecutors dropped felony charges that included making threats against public officials and others. District Judge James B. Wheelis suspended his original sentence of Province having to serve 180 days in jail for each charge. Jefferson County Attorney Mathew Johnson explains that the plea deal was reached after a thorough review of the evidence.

Court documents confirm that another witness had reported that Province had body armor, assault rifles, and armor-piercing ammunition in his home. Investigators did find some ammunition and three rifles that may have belonged to Province, but authorities would not elaborate on what kinds of weapons specifically were found or suspected.