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Kalispell man involved in three court cases

Jesse Davis | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 11 years, 8 months AGO
by Jesse Davis
| March 11, 2013 6:30 PM

A 33-year-old Kalispell man with three active cases — and in the middle of his 19th stay at the Flathead County Detention Center —  pleaded not guilty Thursday in Flathead District Court to a felony charge of bail jumping.

The new charge was levied against Joshua Pilsch after he allegedly failed to appear Sept. 10 for his jury trial for what would be his fourth offense of drunken driving.

Between the two cases, Pilsch is facing up to 15 years in prison and a fine of between $1,000 and $10,000.

Pilsch allegedly was involved in a drunken driving crash on Dec. 11, 2011. Pilsch was reported to have been loud and combative, having tried to punch a responder with the Smith Lake Fire Department before leaving the scene of the crash on foot.

A Montana Highway Patrol trooper allegedly found Pilsch walking down the highway and transported him back to the scene of the crash. When on the way to the jail, Pilsch allegedly offered the trooper $300 to take him home. Pilsch allegedly threatened the trooper while in the booking area of the jail.

His prior convictions for DUI came in September 1997, April 2005 and December 2005.

Pilsch also faces the revocation of a three-year deferred sentence he received after pleading guilty to a felony charge of accountability to criminal distribution of dangerous drugs in 2009.

A change-of-plea hearing anticipated to cover all three cases is scheduled for March 14.

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