An Evergreen man sentenced in late 2012 after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge has now pleaded not guilty to a spate of new charges.

Vassar Rach, 33, was stopped by a Montana Highway Patrol trooper on April 5, allegedly because his front license plate was bent up under the grill. According to a Flathead District Court document, the trooper reported that Rach seemed dazed and smelled of alcohol.

Further investigation allegedly showed that Rach’s driver’s license was suspended and that he did not have car insurance.

Rach then allegedly admitted he had been drinking and failed field sobriety tests and a breath test. He now faces a felony charge of driving under the influence and misdemeanor counts of driving with a suspended or revoked license and failure to show proof of insurance compliance.

His prior convictions for drunken driving came in July 2003, August 2004 and August 2011.Save without closing

In late 2012, Rach was convicted of misdemeanor negligent endangerment after a hung jury ended a trial on his original charges of felony driving under the influence, misdemeanor careless driving and misdemeanor obstructing a peace officer.

Rach was given a one-year suspended sentence by District Judge Ted Lympus. He had completed roughly five months of the sentence at the time of the 2013 traffic stop.

If convicted of the new charges, Rach faces between two days in the county jail and five years in prison plus one year in the county jail as well as a fine of between $1,000 and $12,500 and up to 40 hours of community service.

He could also face revocation of his prior sentence.

Rach’s next hearing is set for July 17.

Reporter Jesse Davis may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at jdavis@dailyinterlake.com.