Bigfork Bobcat Tudahl returns to the field

Bigfork native and Montana State University junior long snapper, Donald Tudahl, 21, has been reinstated to the team after his felony assault charge was reduced to a misdemeanor and his sentencing was deferred.

Prior to this, Tudahl was suspended under the team’s code of conduct policy for allegedly punching a customer in the face and breaking his nose and possibly jaw while working as a bouncer at the Garden Bar on July 1. By pleading Alford, Tudahl’s plea essentially means he doesn’t agree with the charges but is entering a no contest in order to forgo the trial and return to school, and to playing for the Bobcats.

According to court documents from July 2, he was working as a bouncer at the Garden Bar on July 1, the night of a 40-person street fight, when a Canadian customer at the Garden Bar, got “lippy” and shoved Tudahl prior to the alleged punch.

Flathead County deputies responded to an assault call later that evening.

The court documents also said that Tudahl left the area, but he returned and admitted to punching the customer and that he acknowledged he should not have done it.

Tudahl’s next hearing was originally scheduled for Oct. 31, which would have made him ineligible to resume playing for the Bobcats during his junior year. If convicted, Tudahl could have faced up to 20 years in jail and a fine of up to $50,000.

According to Tudahl’s attorney, Peter Leandor, MSU would not withdraw Tudahl’s suspension unless the charges were reduced to a misdemeanor or the entire case was resolved. This process would have taken months.

“He was in a catch-22, defend himself and lose the entire season or enter this plea and get it off his record eventually,” Leandor said. “But it is a hard pill to swallow, I hate to have clients enter this plea.”

Had Tudahl chosen to defend himself in court rather than plead Alford, Leandor said, “we would have gone to trial and I think we would have won.” Leandor also said that after three months the judge could withdraw the plea and dismiss the case.

“I don’t think any of the newspapers knew this kid gave his ID to an underage person so the underage person could illegally buy drinks, so he had broken the law a few different ways,” Leandor said.

Tudahl is serving a one-game suspension for the first game of the season against Chadron State on Aug. 30. He returned to practice last Saturday.