Missoula Crime Report: Charged the Most Cases Ever Last Month

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - The Missoula County Attorney’s Office filed 22 new criminal complaints this week, which is four more than last week and right around the weekly average. According to County Attorney Kirsten Pabst, they charged 74 cases in January, which is the most ever.  

“Five of those cases involved family member assault-type charges,” Pabst said. “Three were partner or family member assault third or subsequent offense, which is a felony. There were two strangulation cases as well as an assault with a weapon. In the non-family category, we charged the exploitation of an elder. In that case, the victim was the victim of a theft, and the defendant was an overnight caregiver.” 

In addition, Pabst said there were six endangerment crimes. 

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“Four of those involved felony DUIs, 4th or subsequent offense, one involved criminal endangerment, and the last one involved felony DUI, criminal endangerment, and impersonation of a public servant, like we had last week. In this case, again, the allegation is that the person pretended to be an FBI agent.” 

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Pabst said there were also two cases that involved stolen cars and five new drug cases. 

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“In the administrative category, we charged an adult with truancy for failing to make the child that she was responsible for go to school,” Pabst said. “We don't charge that, that is a tool in our toolbox that we don't use a lot, but when it gets to be pretty extreme, sometimes we have no other alternative. Kids between the ages of seven and 16 have to go to school. They can't miss more than nine days a year unexcused, or 54 periods in a year.” 

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