Pavlik to appear in January

THOMPSON FALLS - What was originally set to be his initial court appearance on Dec. 11 has been changed to Jan. 8 due to a motion filed by accused offender Lance Pavlik’s lawyer, Lance Jasper.

According to court officials, Jasper filed an unopposed motion to continue on Friday, which went to the judge and was approved. Pavlik will appear in Sanders County District Court on Tuesday, Jan. 8. According to records, Pavlik has not been arrested nor posted bond since his involvement with the crash on Sept. 8 on Prospect Creek Rd.

Sanders County Attorney Robert L. Zimmerman filed charges against Lance Pavlik on Tuesday, Nov. 20 for four felony counts, two of which involve alcohol.

The charges and affidavit read that Pavlik stands charged and accused of vehicular homicide while under the influence (counts I and II) and criminal endangerment (counts III and IV). The vehicular homicide charges stem from the deaths of Christina Rae Jackson (count I) and Jeremiah Abel Bennett (count II). The criminal endangerment charges stem from the injuries sustained by young children Mya Bennett, 4, and Abel Bennett, 2, of Thompson Falls due to the collision.

Following the two-vehicle crash on Sept. 8, Pavlik, Jeremiah Bennett, and the Bennett children were transported to CFVH, where blood samples were taken for investigative purposes.

Pavlik’s blood alcohol concentration levels have been revealed to be .245. Under Montana law, if the blood alcohol concentration of one driving a vehicle is .08 or greater, there is a rebuttable inference that the person is under the influence of alcohol. Blood samples were also taken from the bodies of Christina Jackson and Jeremiah Bennett following the accident, and lab analysis reveals neither had alcohol or dangerous drugs in their blood.

Several witnesses that were interviewed for the investigation leading up to the charges alleged they saw Pavlik consume alcoholic beverages on the afternoon and evening of Sept. 8th, hours before the collision occurred.