Man guilty of felony charges

A 24-year-old Missoula man who once tried to escape from a courtroom pleaded guilty to three felonies Thursday in Flathead District Court.

Jonathan Graves originally was charged with felony theft and burglary in connection with a Nov. 26, 2011, theft of coins and the burglary of a home on U.S. 2 East.

He also was charged with two counts of felony assault on a peace officer, felony attempted escape and misdemeanor charges of fleeing from or eluding a peace officer and resisting arrest related to his Dec. 22, 2011, escape attempt.

When he attempted to escape the courtroom, he assaulted a courtroom security officer and eventually was stopped by a Montana Highway Patrol trooper and a civilian, who gave a security officer enough time to use a Taser and recapture Graves.

On Thursday, Graves pleaded guilty to felony burglary in the first case as well as one count of felony assault on a peace officer and felony attempted escape in the second case. The remaining charges were dismissed.

Graves now faces between two and 50 years in jail and a fine of up to $100,000.

A request that Graves be released on his own recognizance while awaiting his May 10 sentencing was denied.