Trial delayed for state senator in assault case

HELENA — The trial of a state senator charged with assaulting his young daughter, estranged wife and her boyfriend has been delayed from August to January.

District Judge Blair Jones set a new trial date of Jan. 12 in Red Lodge for Republican state Sen. Jason Priest. State prosecutors and Priest’s attorney have until the end of September to try to resolve the case without going to trial.

Prosecutors say on Feb. 1, Priest threw his 4-year-old daughter through a doorway, tried to push his wife down the stairs, tackled her boyfriend and struggled with an officer who intervened.

Priest pleaded not guilty to felony assault on a minor and misdemeanor counts of partner or family member assault, assault and resisting arrest.