Woman pleads guilty to DUI with tot in car

 A Kalispell woman has pleaded guilty to a pair of charges after being caught driving drunk with her 3-year-old daughter in the vehicle with her.

Sharon Fronapfel, 43, entered the pleas Tuesday in Flathead District court to felony criminal endangerment and misdemeanor drunk driving.

Fronapfel was stopped July 19 by a Kalispell police officer after she was seen driving without her lights on. She displayed several signs of being intoxicated and admitted drinking five beers at home with dinner before driving. She later failed a breath-alcohol test.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Fronapfel testified that she has no criminal history, including no prior instances of drunk driving, and that she has been in counseling.

Fronapfel initially was charged with felony criminal child endangerment and misdemeanor drunk driving before the endangerment charge was changed to regular criminal endangerment. The two crimes carry the same maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The Flathead County Attorney’s Office is recommending a total three-year deferred sentence when Fronapfel is sentenced on Dec. 5.