O'Brien to serve time in jail for drunk driving crash
Photo by Sarah Leavenworth<br>Michael O'Brien is sentenced in district court Tuesday.
Michael O'Brien has been handed time behind bars and fines for leading police on a high speed chase through Thompson Falls, striking another vehicle and leaving the scene of the accident while under the influence of alcohol this summer.
O'Brien, a 21-year-old Thompson Falls resident, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of negligent endangerment, a second offense of driving under the influence, speeding, failure to remain at the scene of an accident and eluding a police officer during an appearance before District Court Judge C. B. McNeil last Tuesday.
The conditions of a plea agreement amending O'Brien's charge of felony criminal endangerment to negligent endangerment will send the man to jail for 32 days, minus time served.
O'Brien was sentenced to one year in jail, with all but 10 days suspended, and is required to pay a fine of $500 for the negligent endangerment charge. He received six months in jail, with all but 10 days suspended, and a $600 fine for his second driving under the influence offense. A $40 fine was levied against O'Brien for speeding, and the repercussions of the eluding a police officer charge carried a one-year prison term, suspended to 10 days, and a $200 fine. Finally, O'Brien is to spend two days in jail and pay a $200 fine for leaving the scene of an accident.
Suzanne Cooperman, paralegal with the Sanders County attorney's office, said O'Brien is also required to complete an outpatient alcohol treatment program as a condition of his plea agreement.
McNeil commented that in addition to punishing O'Brien, the sentence will provide an "opportunity for his rehabilitation."
O'Brien, then 20, fled from police in Thompson Falls June 27 following an attempted traffic stop, but was later arrested on suspicion of DUI and booked in Sanders County jail, according to Thompson Falls Chief of Police Chuck Hammett.
Hammett reported that O'Brien was driving dangerously and at high speeds through Thompson Falls with police in pursuit.
O'Brien struck a pickup and continued to main street on Highway 200, Hammett said.
Sgt. Jerry McKeen and Deputy Martin Spring of the Sanders County Sheriff's Office assisted in the pursuit, but Hammett said that the chase "evolved so fast" that within about five minutes, O'Brien had eluded law enforcement and disappeared from sight.
The chief said his department later received information that led to O'Brien's arrest.