Man sentenced after pleading guilty to his fourth DUI

A Kalispell man has received the maximum possible penalty after pleading guilty to his fourth offense of driving under the influence.

Kristopher Chandler, 36, was sentenced Aug. 1 by District Judge Heidi Ulbricht to 13 months in a residential treatment facility followed by five years of probation, both through the Montana Department of Corrections.

Chandler was stopped May 1, 2012, by a Montana Highway Patrol trooper after he was seen traveling over the center line directly toward the trooper’s patrol car. He had already been reported as a possible intoxicated driver.

The trooper reported Chandler switched seats with his passenger before he approached, but the passenger later admitted to the trooper that she changed seats because Chandler had been drinking.

Chandler then failed a field sobriety test, but twice refused to take a breath-alcohol test.

A second case against Chandler, charging him with felony bail jumping for his failure to appear for his sentencing on the drunk driving case on two prior occasions, was dismissed.