Judge denies bail reduction in abuse case

A man accused of beating his girlfriend in a case that has grabbed the attention of the Montana Attorney General's office - and has had a related $1 million lawsuit filed against the county and then dismissed - was denied bail reduction Monday afternoon in District Court.

Eric Hawley's public defender said he would live in Hays if bond was reduced and he was able to pay the bond.

With the alleged victim in the courtroom, Assistant Attorney General Joel Thompson - who has taken over the case for Hill County Attorney Jessica Cole-Hodgkinson - asked District Court Judge Daniel Boucher to go beyond keeping Hawley's bail the same and increase it from $20,000 to $30,000.

Thompson said Hawley's behavior "shows a pattern."

Hawley, born in 1976, is charged with his sixth count of partner or family member assault.

Thompson said Hawley assaulted the Havre victim while he was on parole for a conviction of assault on a past girlfriend. He added that the victim was frightened that Hawley would come after her if he was loose in any way. No distance or restraining order would guarantee the victim safety, Thompson said.

"There is no reason to accept he will not use alcohol and do harm," Thompson said.

Boucher agreed with Thompson that nothing has made a difference in Hawley's behavior.

"I find that Mr. Hawley presents a risk of harm to the public," Boucher said.

Hawley's bond was not increased. He is listed on the Hill County Detention Center's roster this morning on a $20,000 bond.

Hawley's alleged assault happened July and the charges were dismissed Feb. 27 after Cole-Hodgkinson said she had lost contact with the victim. The case was on its way to a jury trial.

The alleged victim then filed a $1 million lawsuit against the county on the grounds of gross incompetence by Cole-Hodgkinson. The case was refiled and will be handled by Thompson.

The lawsuit has since also been dismissed by Boucher. Boucher said in his dismissal order that the woman's allegations lack factual basis, and that the county attorney is immune from civil liability in performing her duties.