Man fighting fourth DUI

A Kalispell man pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Flathead District Court to a pair of felony charges, including what would be his fourth offense of drunk driving.

Charles Pyles, 51, is charged with driving under the influence and criminal possession of dangerous drugs in connection with a Sept. 19 traffic stop.

According to a court document, a Montana Highway Patrol trooper stopped Pyles after clocking him at five miles per hour over the speed limit.

He was evasive about identifying himself, the document claims, and smelled of alcohol.

The trooper reported Pyles eventually gave his name and admitted he had been drinking. He later allegedly failed field sobriety tests at the Flathead County Detention Center.

While a detention officer was emptying Pyles’ pockets at the jail, he reportedly found a baggie containing a white crystalline substance that Pyles allegedly told him was “most likely meth.” Pyles also allegedly told the officer that he had a drug problem.

Pyles’ prior convictions for drunk driving came in February 1996, May 2010 and August 2012.

If convicted of the drug charge, Pyles faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000.

A felony drunk driving conviction is punishable with 13 months in a residential alcohol treatment program run by the Montana Department of Corrections, a consecutive, suspended sentence of five years either to the corrections department or the Montana State Prison, or between 13 months and five years of incarceration with the corrections department if the defendant has already been placed in treatment due to a prior conviction.

It also carries a fine of between $1,000 and $10,000.

Pyles is currently incarcerated in the county jail, where his bond is set at $40,000. If he is released, he is to be placed on remote alcohol monitoring.

His next hearing is set for Jan. 15, 2014.

Reporter Jesse Davis may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at jdavis@dailyinterlake.com.