Man earns suspended sentence for driving drunk with children

A Kalispell man accused of drunkenly driving himself and his two children to check in with his probation officer in March received a suspended five-year sentence earlier this year.  

Flathead County District Court Judge Amy Eddy handed down the sentence to Jacob Austin King, 32, on April 18. King had earlier pleaded guilty to a single felony count of criminal child endangerment after striking a deal with prosecutors.  

Authorities reported that King smelled of alcohol when he arrived at the Adult Probation Office on March 11, according to court documents. Though he initially claimed he had walked to the building, he later recanted and admitted he drove to the office with his two children in his vehicle, court documents alleged.