Man pleads not guilty to 4th DUI

A 34-year-old Kalispell man has pleaded not guilty in Flathead District Court to what would be his fourth offense of driving under the influence.

According to a court document, a Montana Highway Patrol trooper responded to Batavia Lane on Nov. 5, where he found a pickup truck stopped in the middle of the road and its driver, Jeffrey Clutters, already speaking with firefighters on the scene.

Clutters allegedly had already told the firefighters that he had been drinking and was going to jail.

The trooper reported that Clutters had a difficult time answering questions, smelled like alcohol and had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes. Clutters allegedly admitted to him that he had consumed a case of Coors beer.

Clutters reportedly failed field sobriety tests and refused to take a breath alcohol test until he was transported to the Flathead County Detention Center.

Clutters’ prior convictions for drunk driving were on Dec. 5, 2002 and two convictions on April 21, 2011.

If convicted, Clutters faces between 13 months and five years in prison and a fine of between $1,000 and $10,000.

His next hearing is scheduled for March 6, 2013.