Bozeman man pleads guilty to helping escaped suspect

 BOZEMAN (AP) — A Bozeman man has pleaded guilty to his role in helping an attempted rape suspect after the man fled police custody.

Tristan Kane Anacker pleaded guilty to felony obstruction of justice last week. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to dismiss an evidence tampering charge.

Anacker was one of five people charged with assisting 28-year-old Kevin Briggs, who  walked out of an unlocked interview room at the police station and went to an apartment shared by Anacker and Andrew Kranker. Two other people were staying there.

Prosecutors say one person helped Briggs cut off his handcuffs and he used Anacker’s phone to call someone in Helena. He used another person’s computer and the group called a fifth person to drive Briggs to Missoula.

Briggs remained on the run for nearly three weeks. He was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Portland, Oregon, on Feb. 21. He has pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault, attempted sexual intercourse without consent, assault on a peace officer, escape, failing to register as a sex offender and possession of dangerous drugs. 

Briggs remains jailed in lieu of $1.25 million bond.