Former University of Montana Griz Football Player Denied Parole
Former University of Montana Grizzly football player Beau Donaldson has been denied parole by the Montana Board of Pardons and Parole.
NBC Montana reports Donaldson pleaded guilty to raping his childhood friend at his home in Missoula. That crime is featured prominently in Jon Krakauer’s book “Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town”.
The parole board commended Donaldson for his progress and recommended boot camp at the prison followed by a program in Great Falls called Aftercare. According to Great Falls Pre-Release Center's website, "The Transition Center provides a residential 30 bed program devoted to preparing graduates from the Treasure State Correctional Training Center (TSCTC) for progressively increased responsibility and freedom in the community."
If both are completed successfully Donaldson will be granted another parole hearing.
Donaldson has been sitting in the state prison for over two years. Today was his first shot at getting parole.
Donaldson was sentenced to 30 years in prison with 20 of them suspended.
He originally pleaded not guilty to charge, but after discussions between his attorney and the county prosecutors, Donaldson changed his plea.
At that time, court documents detailed a phone conversation where Donaldson confessed to the woman he had raped her.