Plea deal eschews fourth DUI charge

A Kalispell man has been convicted of an amended charge after initially being charged with what would have been his fourth offense of drunk driving.

Terry Morrissette, 45, pleaded guilty by way of Alford on May 30 in Flathead District Court to felony criminal endangerment. The plea allows him to take advantage of an agreement with prosecutors while maintaining his innocence, although he stands convicted of the crime.

According to a court document, two Montana Highway Patrol troopers were in the parking lot of an appliance store on Dec. 1, 2012, when a truck pulled in and they heard someone yelling from the truck, “get the (expletive) over here and get the (expletive) in the truck.”

The driver was Morrissette, who reportedly smelled of alcohol and allegedly failed field sobriety and breath alcohol tests.

Morrissette has prior convictions for driving under the influence from November 1997, January 1998, and April 2010.

He now faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000. If he had pleaded or been found guilty of the drunk driving charge, he would have faced between 13 months in jail and five years in prison and a fine of between $1,000 and $10,000.

Morrissette is currently released on his own recognizance, although he must take twice-daily breath-alcohol tests as part of the 24/7 Sobriety Program.

A sentencing hearing has been set for July 18.