Charge reduced after drunk-driving plea agreement
Jesse Davis | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 12 years, 6 months AGO
A Columbia Falls man has pleaded guilty to a reduced drunk-driving charge after being involved in a collision last year.
Rodney Hoerner, 45, was arrested Oct. 2, 2012, after the crash. A Kalispell police officer responded to the crash and spoke with Hoerner, who failed field sobriety tests and refused breath alcohol tests.
Hoerner was originally charged with felony driving under the influence, owing to his prior drunk-driving convictions in November 1992, September 2008, and January 2011. That charge was reduced to a misdemeanor as part of a plea agreement.
That plea agreement also includes a stipulation that the Flathead County Attorney’s Office will request a sentence of one year in the Flathead County Detention Center, with all but 30 days suspended. The request will also include a chemical dependency evaluation and any subsequently recommended treatment.
A sentencing hearing has been set for July 18.
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