![9th DUI Arrest For Missoula Man – Persistent Felony Offender Spat On Highway Patrol Trooper Four Times](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2017/04/Howard-Hiner.jpg?w=630&h=420&zc=1&s=0&a=t&q=89&w=980&q=75)
9th DUI Arrest For Missoula Man – Persistent Felony Offender Spat On Highway Patrol Trooper Four Times
50 year-old Howard Hiner was arrested for his ninth DUI on Easter Sunday and appeared in Missoula Justice Court on Tuesday, where he was placed on $50,000 bail.
Court documents indicate that Hiner wrecked a stolen pickup truck, and when the Highway Patrol trooper drove him to the jail, Hiner allegedly spat on him at least four times.
At his justice court appearance, Deputy Missoula County Attorney Mark Handelman asked Judge Landee Holloway to place Hiner in jail on $75,000 bail. Hiner appeared wearing a special vest to keep him from harming himself.
“The defendant showed up at a woman’s house claiming to be lost,” Handelman began. “He was intoxicated and the woman called police. The defendant was later found to have skidded off the road in a stolen truck. He provided a breath sample of .117. His criminal record shows eight prior DUI convictions, including felony DUI, felony burglary, felony bail jumping, felony drug possession and felony assault.”
Handelman continued.
“He has had numerous parole violations,” he said. “The defendant is now looking at a persistent felony offender status with a minimum five year term at the Montana State Prison, but our office is fairly confident that he is a double PFO where there’s a mandatory 10 year sentence. Due to his many DUI convictions and history of absconding, the State is asking for $75,000 bail.
Judge Holloway set bail at $50,000 and ordered Hiner to be returned to the Missoula County Jail.
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