Tuesday, July 22, 2025
57.0°F

State Sen. Augare charged with DUI, obstruction

The Associated Press | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 12 years, 1 month AGO
by The Associated Press
| June 21, 2013 10:00 PM

HELENA (AP) — Federal prosecutors on Friday charged state Sen. Shannon Augare with drunken driving, obstructing a peace officer and reckless driving after the Browning Democrat allegedly told a sheriff’s deputy last month he had no jurisdiction to arrest him and fled a traffic stop.

The charges are misdemeanors and, if convicted, Augare would face penalties of between nine and 15 months in prison and up to $1,800 in fines.  

The U.S. attorney’s office has requested a court summons be issued for Augare, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Fehr.

Augare did not return a call for comment Friday. It was unclear whether he has retained an attorney.

Augare, who is a member of the governing Blackfeet Tribal Business Council, was pulled over May 26 on U.S. 2 on the Blackfeet reservation after the Glacier County Sheriff’s Office received calls of an erratic driver.

Augare had been drinking in a Cut Bank bar earlier in the evening with his family and left the bar with his mother, an FBI affidavit filed with the charging documents said.

The driver identified himself as Augare, said the deputy had no jurisdiction and that he was going to leave.

State and county officials generally don’t have jurisdiction to arrest an enrolled tribal member within the boundaries of a reservation.

The deputy ordered Augare to turn off the ignition, and the officer reached in and placed the gear shift into park, according to the FBI affidavit.

The deputy tried to grab the keys and told Augare, “You are highly intoxicated,” the affidavit said.

Augare revved his engine in response and a second deputy pulled the first officer back as Augare sped off, the affidavit said.  

The deputies called Blackfeet law enforcement, and two tribal officers found the pickup parked behind some grain bins. Augare and his mother had switched places, with his mother in the driver’s seat, and the keys were no longer in the ignition, the affidavit said.

The officers did not conduct any breathalyzer or sobriety tests, but gave the pair a ride home, according to the affidavit.

The sheriff’s office turned the case over to the Blackfeet tribal justice system. Chief tribal prosecutor Carl Pepion said Thursday he asked the U.S. attorney’s office to review the case.

MORE IMPORTED STORIES

Tribal leader wants DUI charges dropped
Daily Inter-Lake | Updated 11 years, 11 months ago
Browning senator charged, pleads guilty in tribal court
Daily Inter-Lake | Updated 11 years, 9 months ago
Apologetic tribal leader wants some charges dismissed
Daily Inter-Lake | Updated 11 years, 8 months ago

ARTICLES BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

September 9, 2021 12:03 a.m.

The Latest: US helped family escape Afghanistan overland

WASHINGTON — The United States is confirming for the first time that it has helped a U.S. citizen and family members to escape Afghanistan through an overland route to a neighboring country.

September 8, 2021 12:03 a.m.

The Latest: US helped family escape Afghanistan overland

WASHINGTON — The United States is confirming for the first time that it has helped a U.S. citizen and family members to escape Afghanistan through an overland route to a neighboring country.

September 8, 2021 12:03 a.m.

The Latest: Top Republican says Taliban holding Americans

WASHINGTON — The top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee says some Americans who have been trying to get out of Afghanistan since the U.S. military left are sitting in airplanes at an airport ready to leave but the Taliban are not letting them take off.