Man charged with felony child endangerment

A Kalispell man was arrested after authorities said he drove drunk during an alleged hit-and-run while a child was in the vehicle.

Carl Gage Patrick Morsette, 22, is charged with felony criminal child endangerment after a Dec. 5 incident in Whitefish.

According to charging documents, Whitefish Police Department officers received a call about a hit-and-run near First Street.

An officer saw a vehicle matching a witness description and stopped it. She believed Morsette showed signs of being drunk. She had him and a juvenile get out of the vehicle.

At the police department, Morsette gave a breath sample and it read 0.190, according to the officer.

Morsette was booked into the Flathead County Detention Center Dec. 6 and released on his recognizance Dec. 8. He was ordered to wear an alcohol monitoring device, not drink alcohol or enter bars, taverns or casinos.

His arraignment is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 28.

Morsette is facing a maximum term of 10 years in the Montana State Prison.

Morsette was involved in an incident in April 2019 when he was charged with attempted strangulation of a partner or family member after choking his girlfriend in front of three children in their residence.

He later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of assault and received a six-month deferred sentence.

The victim later requested a temporary protection order against Morsette before changing her mind the same day.

Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 406-758-4441 or at sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.