Jury Convicts Man Of 12th DUI Offense

A 53-year-old Helena man has been convicted of his 12th DUI offense.

A jury deliberated for about three hours Wednesday before finding Charles R. Horton guilty of the felony.

Sentencing has been scheduled for July 28.

Prosecutors say Horton was arrested in November after his car caught fire and became lodged in a snow bank after a night of drinking at a Helena bar. They say he continuously changed his story of the events of that night and acknowledged lying that his girlfriend was behind the wheel at the time of the incident.

The defense argued the vehicle became lodged in the snow bank when Horton was fending off an attack from his girlfriend.

Horton pleaded not guilty to the charge in January.

Story From The Assocaite Press