Man pleads guilty to DUI charges
Charges relating to standoff dropped
A Marion man arrested in January after a 24-hour armed standoff at his home left two of his young children showing signs of hypothermia has pleaded guilty to unrelated DUI charges.
All charges related to the standoff, however, were dropped during 45-year-old Thomas Glenn Lockwood's appearance Thursday in Flathead County District Court.
"The reason for that, the only reason for it, is that three months after that standoff his wife marched the kids in and basically told the Sheriff's Office… in effect that they weren't in fear for their lives or safety," Flathead County Attorney Ed Corrigan said. "Had she remained consistent in that claim they were afraid for their lives or afraid of getting shot, we would have taken him to trial."
Without testimony that Lockwood's wife was afraid for her life or the lives of her children, prosecutors were forced to drop the assault-with-a-weapon charge.
"It's frustrating when the kids and their welfare take a back seat," Corrigan said.
Criminal endangerment charges related to the standoff also were dismissed after Lockwood pleaded guilty to a separate criminal endangerment charge in connection to the DUI case.
"She realized there was no threat to her or her children, although it was perceived by her that there was earlier," said Lockwood's attorney, Lane K. Bennett.
According to court records, sheriff's deputies responded to reports of a domestic disturbance with shots fired at Lockwood's home, located in the 9400 block of Lost Prairie Road, about 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 6.
Lockwood, who reportedly had an adverse reaction after mixing alcohol and anti-depressants, is accused of locking his wife and three children out of their home.
Lockwood's wife initially told investigators that when she asked her husband to send out the children's shoes and coats, a single gunshot was fired inside the house.
Thinking Lockwood had committed suicide, his wife put two of the couple's three children in a nearby car. But prosecutors believe Lockwood came out and started shooting, at which time his wife and one child fled half a mile in socks to a neighbor's house, where they called authorities.
Officers with the Flathead County Sheriff's Office SWAT team were not able to retrieve the two children from the car until 12:45 a.m. on Jan. 7.
Negotiations continued until Lockwood, who was armed with a handgun, surrendered without incident about 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 7. To the best of his knowledge, officers weren't in danger during the standoff, Corrigan said.
Bennett said the Lockwood family wants to get back together and put the incident behind them. Lockwood's wife later came to realize the shots were not at her or the children and no danger from her husband existed, he added.
On Thursday, Lockwood pleaded guilty to felony criminal endangerment and misdemeanor DUI.
He testified briefly to fleeing from the scene of an Aug. 28, 2008, crash on U.S. 2 in Marion that left two of his three children injured.
According to prosecutors, Lockwood picked his children up at their bus stop and hit a car in the parking lot before eventually running his Chevrolet Camaro off the highway. He fled with his son and left his two injured daughters behind.
Corrigan said he would recommend Lockwood, who still is incarcerated, receive a 10-year probationary sentence.
Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com