Drunk-driving mom gets a deferred sentence

A Kalispell mother has been given a three-year deferred sentence after driving drunk with her 5-month-old and 10-year-old children in the vehicle.

Jessica Dimler, 29, previously pleaded guilty to felony criminal endangerment and misdemeanor drunk driving.

Dimler failed several field-sobriety tests during the Oct. 8, 2013, traffic stop.

She admitted in court testimony to drinking. A court document  states she also took morphine and hydrocodone and used marijuana prior to driving. She reportedly had prescriptions for all of the drugs.

A Child and Parent Services investigation into Dimler was dropped.

In addition to handing down the deferred sentence during the May 13 hearing in Flathead District Court, District Judge Ted Lympus ordered Dimler to pay a $100 surcharge and ruled that she is eligible for a probationary driver’s license.