Plea deal sends burglar to prison for 10 years

A 24-year-old Missoula man who once attempted to escape from court was sentenced May 10 in Flathead District Court to 10 years in prison with an additional 10 years suspended for burglary and assault.

Jonathan Graves was given two consecutive five-year sentences, with each sentence also carrying an additional five years suspended.

Graves originally was charged with felony counts of theft and burglary in connection with the theft of several thousand dollars’ worth of cash and coins from a vehicle, plus a later burglary of a U.S. 2 East home in Glacier County and subsequent flight from police.

On Dec. 22, 2011, Graves tried to escape from the Flathead Justice Center courtroom, assaulting a courtroom security officer and eventually being subdued by two people and another courtroom security officer with a Taser.

For that incident, Graves was charged with three counts of felony assault on a peace officer, felony attempted escape, misdemeanor fleeing from or eluding a peace officer and misdemeanor resisting arrest.

Graves eventually accepted a plea deal in which he pleaded guilty to the burglary charge in the first case as well as one count of assault on a peace officer and attempted escape in the second case. The remaining charges were dismissed.

In addition to jail time, Graves was ordered to pay roughly $6,400 in restitution to three parties as well as $1,500 of a $3,000 fine and an $800 public defender fee. He also was ordered to take an anger management course.