Missoula County: Most Felony Jury Trials Ever in 2024

The Missoula County Attorney’s Office filed just nine new felony complaints this week, which is six less than last week and lower than the weekly average. According to County Attorney Matt Jennings, there was only one family violence case. 

“We usually get a lot, especially as we head into the holidays and so we're happy to see that,” Jennings said. “We had four total crimes of violence against other persons. We had one endangerment crime, which are often related to people's driving behavior and being really reckless. We had three property crimes and one drug crime.” 

Jennings also mentioned that they had a record-setting jury trial this year. 

“We had 24 felony jury trials,” Jennings said. “Over the last seven or eight years that we've been tracking that, that's the highest number of jury trials that we've ever had. That might not sound like a lot, but going to a trial is kind of a big deal. We sometimes summon up to a couple of 100 people in to be jurors. We pull them away from their families and their jobs. That's something we take very seriously. Our prosecutors have usually put in, if not dozens, often hundreds of hours into preparing for a trial along with their law enforcement partners and victims.” 

Jennings said most of these trials involve very serious offenses. 

“In years past, we did have more cases that were like felony DUIs and drug possessions,” Jennings said. “What we're seeing now is most of the cases that are going all the way to trial are very serious offenses. We just really appreciate that dedication and attentiveness of some of our jurors that do pull themselves away from their lives to serve that importance civic duty.” 

READ MORE: Missoula News - Crime Reports

Jennings added that every one of those cases that went to jury did result in a conviction of a very serious offense.   

“I do think it is a testament to the quality and professionalism in our office, being careful of which cases we do to take to trial, the preparation and the dedication of law enforcement getting to that point, and knowing the amount of work that jurors put into these to reach a fair and just conclusion is just really important to our system,” Jennings said. 

The Missoula County Attorney’s Office provides a weekly crime report every Friday morning at 9:00 on Talk Back. You can listen to Jennings’ full report below: