Whitefish woman sentenced for fifth DUI

A Whitefish woman has been sentenced to 13 months of treatment and four years of probation after pleading guilty to her fifth offense of driving while intoxicated.

Lauri Moon, 54, pleaded guilty as part of a plea agreement that included the dismissal of several misdemeanor charges filed in Flathead County Justice Court.

Moon was approached by Kalispell police on Aug. 13 after an off-duty officer witnessed her swerving in and out of her lane several times and having difficulty maintaining her balance when she got out of her vehicle at a gas station.

The off-duty officer reported he could smell the alcohol on Moon from 10 feet away, and she later failed several field sobriety tests.

It was reported during her change-of-plea hearing Thursday that Moon’s blood work came back at 0.18 percent blood-alcohol level following the incident.

District Judge Robert Allison recommended Moon be placed in the Warm Springs Addiction Treatment and Change program.