A man arrested last year after allegedly trashing his Columbia Falls hotel room in a drug-fueled blackout was later ordered to pay more than $1,000 in restitution. 

Donald Robert Hamilton, 61, was initially brought up on felony counts of criminal mischief and criminal possession of dangerous drugs following his March 15, 2024 run-in with Columbia Falls Police officers. Though he maintained his innocence at his arraignment in Flathead County District Court, Hamilton took a deal with prosecutors in August of that year that saw him plead guilty to a pair of misdemeanor charges.  

In exchange for the guilty pleas, prosecutors agreed to recommend Hamilton serve two suspended six-month jail sentences for misdemeanor criminal possession of drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor criminal mischief. The arrangement also required Hamilton to pay $1,188.69 in restitution to the hotel.  

Hamilton entered the guilty pleas before Judge Heidi Ulbricht on Aug. 22. Ulbricht handed down the suspended sentences that same day, ordering them to run concurrently. She also gave Hamilton credit for 159 days of time served and waived court fines and fees amounting to $575.  

Officers headed to the Columbia Falls hotel about 1:43 p.m., March 15, 2024 after employees reported a guest had barricaded themselves inside their room, according to court documents. Pushing past furniture stacked against the door, they found Hamilton amid a broken flat screen television that was torn from a wall mount, broken mini-fridge and busted microwave, court documents said.  

While directing Hamilton to get dressed, officers allegedly spotted a bag containing a crystalline substance. 

Hamilton admitted the bag contained methamphetamine, court documents said, and told officers he blacked out after taking the drug the night prior. Though unable to recall causing the damage, Hamilton could offer no other explanation, according to court documents. 

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or [email protected].