Monday, January 20, 2025
0.0°F

Felony child endangerment case dismissed against drunk driver

DERRICK PERKINS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 10 months AGO
by DERRICK PERKINS
Daily Inter Lake | March 7, 2023 11:00 PM

A Flathead County District Court judge dismissed a felony criminal child endangerment case against a Kalispell woman in January after she agreed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor drunk driving charge.

Prosecutors brought Celina Marie Riley, 29, up on the felony charge in October after her spouse and a friend reported her for allegedly driving home from a wedding drunk with children in the car. Authorities were alerted after Riley’s spouse unsuccessfully tried to remove the children before Riley drove off, court documents said.

When Flathead County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived at her home later that night, they determined she had a breath alcohol content of .166, according to court documents. She allegedly admitted to drinking at the wedding and showed signs of impairment during field sobriety tests.

Riley voluntarily submitted to a preliminary breath test, court documents said.

Arraigned before Judge Dan Wilson on Oct. 28, Riley pleaded not guilty to the felony charge. She was scheduled to return to court Jan. 4 for a pretrial conference.

But on Jan. 3, prosecutors submitted a motion to dismiss the case, writing that Riley had agreed to plead guilty to misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol in Flathead County Justice Court. Wilson ordered the case dismissed without prejudice, meaning prosecutors could potentially refile the charge, the following day.

According to justice court records, Riley was found guilty of the misdemeanor charge on Jan. 24.

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or dperkins@dailyinterlake.com.

MORE LOCAL-NEWS STORIES

Kalispell woman pleads not guilty to child endangerment
Daily Inter-Lake | Updated 2 years, 2 months ago
Suspect in knife attack given five-year prison sentence
Daily Inter-Lake | Updated 1 year, 10 months ago

ARTICLES BY DERRICK PERKINS

Motorist in drug-fueled wreck given partially suspended sentence
January 16, 2025 11 p.m.

Motorist in drug-fueled wreck given partially suspended sentence

Prosecutors charged Jason Robert Skalsky, 52, with felony negligent vehicular assault in the wake of the Feb. 25 wreck near the intersection of Woodland Avenue and Willow Glen Drive.

Brother faces felony for allegedly threatening sibling with kitchen knife
January 13, 2025 11 p.m.

Brother faces felony for allegedly threatening sibling with kitchen knife

Erick Navarijo faces one count of felony assault with a weapon in Flathead County District Court following his Jan. 2 arrest at a home on Tamarack Way.

Suspected meth dealer back behind bars
January 8, 2025 11 p.m.

Suspected meth dealer back behind bars

Authorities are holding Jeremy Lee Webster, 37, in the Flathead County Detention Center with bail set at $15,000.