Man pleads not guilty to ninth DUI charge

A man has denied driving drunk and causing a crash in Evergreen on March 11.

Gary Gene Gilbert, 62, pleaded not guilty in Flathead District Court on Thursday to felony DUI and felony criminal mischief.

Court documents say he pulled out on Evergreen Drive and struck another vehicle.

He then allegedly pulled into the parking lot of Valley Motors and hit two parked cars.

Once a Montana Highway Patrol trooper was able to get Gilbert to pull over, he noted that Gilbert was unsteady on his feet and smelled of alcohol.

Gilbert refused to provide a breath test, but a blood sample was collected at the hospital. It was sent for analysis to the Montana State Crime Lab.

Gilbert has eight prior DUI convictions dating back to 1990.

A trial has been set for August.

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