Felony DUI charge amended

A 40-year-old former Columbia Falls man now living in Kalispell pleaded guilty on April 12 to an amended charge of felony criminal endangerment.

Benjamin Bowerman was initially charged with felony DUI. Appearing before Flathead County District Court Judge Katherine Curtis, Bowerman also pleaded guilty to a new charge of DUI No. 1, a misdemeanor.

According to court records, Bowerman was arrested by a Montana Highway Patrol trooper who responded to a three-vehicle accident on July 28, 2010, near U.S. 2 and Poplar Drive.

When Bowerman was unable to produce a driver’s license because it was suspended, the trooper allegedly detected the strong odor of alcohol on Bowerman’s breath. A preliminary breath test measured Bowerman’s blood alcohol concentration at 0.113.

After transporting Bowerman to the county detention center, the trooper noted that Bowerman’s speech was slurred and he skipped numbers during a field sobriety test. A breath test recorded a 0.09 blood alcohol concentration.

A check of Bowerman’s driving record revealed three prior DUI convictions, in March 1991, March 1993 and April 2010.

Bowerman faces up to 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine for the felony criminal endangerment charge. Sentencing is scheduled for May 31.