Missoula Man Held on $40,000 Bond For Beating Girlfriend and Driving Drunk While Holding Five Week-Old Infant In His Arms
21 year-old Braden Gibson appeared in Missoula Justice Court via video from the Missoula County Jail charged with felony criminal child endangerment for allegedly driving drunk while holding a five week-old baby in his arms, and for beating the child's mother.
According to court documents early Friday morning, May 6, called 9-1-1 from a friend's home and said she had been beaten up by her boyfriend at a residence on South Third Street in Missoula. When the victim confronted Gibson about his alcohol and drug use, and demanded he move out, Gibson began kicking and punching her while she was holding their five week-old baby in her arms.
Gibson was located in a vehicle, and exited while holding the baby in his arms.
He was charged with felony criminal child endangerment for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol with an infant in his arms. He was also charged with partner or family member assault, driving with a suspended license, and destroying a telephone that his victim was attempting to use to call 9-1-1.
Deputy Missoula County Attorney Brittney Santorno asked Judge Marie Anderson for $50,000 bail, and for Gibson to have absolutely no contact with the victim or the infant. Anderson set bail at $40,000, and remanded him back to the jail.
The victim appeared in court with the infant and specifically asked the judge to keep Gibson in jail, or have him monitored for drug and alcohol use.