Dayton man accused of strangling girlfriend, criminal mischief
JEFF SMITH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 month, 3 weeks AGO
Orli Christensen Bitsinni
Jeff Smith is news director for Anderson Broadcasting and a contributor to the Lake County Leader. | February 25, 2026 11:00 PM
A Dayton man is accused of choking his girlfriend, and in a separate matter, damaging a gate. Orli Christensen Bitsinni, 26, entered a plea of not guilty in District Court in Polson Feb. 19 to felony strangulation of a partner or family member.
According to court records, on Feb 9, law enforcement officers responded to a report of a domestic disturbance at a Polson residence. A woman at the scene told the officers that she and Bitsinni had argued, and she asked him to leave.
He packed a duffle bag and appeared to intentionally bump into her as he walked by and she confronted him about it. Bitsinni allegedly shoved her to the ground, got on top of her and began to choke her with both hands.
She said her face went numb and she thought she was going to pass out. The officers observed redness to her chest and throat area.
In a separate matter, Bitsinni entered a plea of not guilty in District Court in Polson Dec. 4, 2025, to felony criminal mischief.
According to court records, on Oct. 26,2025, a deputy with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Dayton area on a report that a vehicle had gotten into a gated area of a private ranch. Damage was done to the entry gate.
Bitsinni was allegedly found slumped over in a vehicle with damage to the front consistent with having rammed a gate. Damage to the gate was estimated at $7,500.
Judge John A. Mercer set the strangulation case for trial on Aug. 10. The criminal mischief case, also before Judge Mercer is set for trial March 9.
Bitsinni was already on probation from a a 2018 conviction for criminal endangerment. He was initially charged with sexual intercourse without consent for having sex with a 13-year-old girl at a house party in Pablo June 10, 2018.
The girl ended up committing suicide rendering the case more difficult to prosecute and the rape charge was reduced to criminal endangerment. Sentencing for Bitsinni was deferred for a period of three years and he served five days in jail.
He later violated conditions of probation on that conviction in 2018 and was committed in District Court at Polson Sept. 23, 2020, to the Montana Department of Corrections for 10 years with five years suspended
He remains in the Lake County Jail with bond totaling $105,000.
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