C-Falls man faces DUI No. 4 charge

A 31-year-old Columbia Falls man has pleaded not guilty to felony DUI in Flathead County District Court. If convicted, Sean Jorgenson faces 13 months with the Montana Department of Corrections followed by a five-year consecutive but suspended prison sentence and a $1,000 to $10,000 fine.

According to court records, a Montana Highway Patrol trooper responding to a report of a vehicle accident on April 29 at 12:09 a.m. located Jorgenson in his red Ford pickup truck.

The trooper reported that Jorgenson smelled of alcohol, had slurred speech and blood-shot eyes, and allegedly admitted drinking earlier. After being transported to the county detention center, Jorgenson allegedly failed a field sobriety test and blew a 0.179 blood alcohol content.

A search of Jorgenson’s driving history turned up DUI or DUI per se convictions on May 16, 2003, June 1, 2005 and July 26, 2011. A public defender was assigned to him, and he was released on condition he wears a SCRAM monitor. His next appearance is Aug. 28.