State seeks to drop case to put Barry Beach back in prison

HELENA (AP) — State prosecutors decided to drop their attempts to put a convicted murderer who was granted clemency back in prison on Friday, a week after the city of Billings dismissed a misdemeanor charge against him.

Assistant Attorney General Ole Olson filed a court motion to dismiss a petition of revocation against Barry Beach, citing the dismissal of the Billings case and the testimony of a witness.

"The State agrees that in light of this evidence, that the case cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt or by a preponderance of the evidence," Olson wrote.

A Roosevelt County jud...