News you can use

Tuss pleads to reduced charges in house crash

Sentencing Feb. 19, likely includes joining drug court

A Havre man faces sentencing for misdemeanor charges for crashing into a neighbor’s house May 5 while driving drunk.

Dolan Tuss, born in 1992, pleaded guilty to amended misdemeanor charges of negligent endangerment, criminal mischief and aggravated driving under the influence.

The original charges, filed after Tuss was accused of driving a pickup truck through the wall of a house while having a blood alcohol concentration five times the legal limit, were felony counts of criminal endangerment and criminal mischief and a misdemeanor count of DUI.

Hill County Attorney Gina Dahl said the prosecution had intended to proceed to sentencing under the plea agreement Tuss has been tentatively admitted to the Hill County drug treatment court, but his application has not been processed yet. She asked for the sentencing to be delayed.

Dahl also told the state District Judge Dan Boucher that the victim is not seeking restitution.

Boucher scheduled sentencing for Feb. 19.

Tuss was charged after a witness called the Havre Police Department about 3 a.m. Sunday, May 5, to report that Tuss had crashed his vehicle into a house.

Officers who responded found a damaged house with tire tracks crossing the sidewalk leading up to the house.

A witness reported looking outside after hearing the crash and seeing the pickup back up and drive to park at Tuss’ residence.

An officer inspecting the damaged residence could see pieces of the house scattered on the basement floor and saw broken beams and drywall.

A portable testing instrument registered Tuss’ blood alcohol concentration at .40 percent, the maximum register of the instrument used.

Under Montana law, a driver may be charged with DUI if the driver’s BAC is .08 percent or higher.

After he was arrested and taken to the Hill County jail, Tuss refused to provide another breath sample for a BAC test.

 
 

Reader Comments(1)

Anthony writes:

I know Dolan personally. He is a stand up guy and the kind of dude that would help you when you're down. Everybody males mistakes. God bless.

 
 
 
Rendered 03/16/2024 13:26