Kalispell man pleads guilty to his sixth DUI

A Kalispell man was convicted of his sixth charge of driving under the influence of alcohol on Thursday in Flathead District Court.

Earl Dean Eystad, 49, pleaded guilty to felony driving under the influence and criminal possession of dangerous drugs as part of a plea agreement.

While on the stand, Eystad admitted that he had been stopped while driving in Kalispell on May 6. According to court documents Eystad’s vehicle had been sitting at a stop for 20 minutes. He was unsuccessful at rolling down his window and had to be helped out of the vehicle. A bottle of alcohol was found in the passenger seat.

Eystad had a .312 blood-alcohol concentration and had three oxycodone pills in his possession.  

“I have no recollection of it,” Eystad told the judge. He said he had been asleep at home and must have gotten up and decided to drive while his wife was at work.

After he was released from jail, Eystad was electronically monitored for alcohol use and tested positive.

Eystad agreed that the blood alcohol concentration was very high, nearly four times the legal limit to drive.

Eystad has previous DUI convictions in 1992, 1997, 2007, 2008 and 2013.

Sentencing was set for Feb. 11 at 1:30 p.m.

Reporter Megan Strickland can be reached at 758-4459 or mstrickland@dailyinterlake.com.