Triple felon sentenced to 10-year prison term

A 51-year-old Columbia Falls man was sentenced Thursday in Flathead District Court to 10 years in prison and 13 1/2 years of probation after pleading guilty to a trio of felonies.

Darren Reid previously pleaded guilty to felony charges of sexual intercourse without consent, intimidation and driving under the influence.

Reid had a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old runaway girl in 2010. According to a court document, he told police he could not stand to be physically separated from her and that he hoped to continue their relationship in the future.

A second charge of felony sexual intercourse without consent as well as felony charges of sexual assault and unlawful transactions with children were dropped.

In a separate case, Reid originally was charged with felony intimidation and misdemeanor driving under the influence, driving without a valid driver’s license, not having required motor vehicle insurance and obstructing a peace officer.

Those charges came after Reid was approached by a state trooper when he backed his truck into a ditch on July 31, 2010. He told the trooper “I’m drunk” and “let’s go to prison,” before becoming belligerent and eventually threatening to kill the trooper and his family.

Because Reid pleaded guilty to intimidation and an elevated felony charge of driving under the influence, the remaining charges were dropped.

Along with his prison sentence, Reid was ordered to pay a $750 fine, a $650 public defender fee and a $270 surcharge.