Missoula County Attorney Reviews Notable Cases From Her 2019 Annual Report

The Missoula County Attorney’s Office has released its 2019 Annual Report. According to County Attorney Kirsten Pabst, crime is down in almost every category. They filed fewer felonies, fewer misdemeanors, and fewer juvenile petitions. 32% of Missoula’s overall crimes were crimes against people and violent crimes. Half of those involved crimes against a child, partner, or other family member. Pabst discussed some of the more notable cases.

“Tiffanie Pierce and Augustus Standingrock were both sentenced,” Pabst said. “That involved the slaying and dismemberment of two young people over on Strand Street in 2017. Francis Crowley was sentenced. He is the man who was accused of abandoning an infant in the wilderness near Lolo Hot Springs last summer.”

Pabst says there were two significant cases that involved sexual intercourse without consent.

“Ryan Mickelson prosecuted Jack Jarvey who was charged with sexual intercourse without consent, three counts of sexual abuse, and one count of intimidation. He received four 100-year sentences. Shane Pelletier was a case handled by lead attorney Brian Lowney. Pelletier was charged with raping a woman that he found in a downtown parking garage. The jury convicted him as well. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison with 20 suspended.”

Pabst also mentioned that Chase Munson was convicted after being charged with attempted deliberate homicide.

“He was accused of participating in shooting a clerk and a customer on the South Avenue Market on Higgins Avenue,” Pabst said. “He received 50 years in the Montana State Prison with 10 suspended. Daniel Grady was a case handled by prosecutor Brittany Williams. She charged Grady with negligent homicide and failure to remain at the scene of an accident after his vehicle struck and killed 20-year-old Rebecca Romero.”

Grady was sentenced to 30 years in prison with 20 of those years suspended.