4th DUI becomes a felony

A Libby man has pleaded not guilty to felony drunken driving after his Nov. 5 arrest.

Mark Christensen, 57, entered the plea Thursday in Flathead District Court.

According to a court document, a Flathead County deputy responded to West Idaho Street after a Kalispell Regional Medical Center security guard reported a drunken driver. The guard said the man had parked his vehicle and exited on foot.

A deputy reportedly found Christensen a couple of minutes later at Lucky Lil’s Casino.

The deputy said Christensen’s breath smelled of alcohol and his eyes were bloodshot. Christensen allegedly admitted to the deputy that he had been drinking earlier in the day, but denied drinking at the casino. He also allegedly admitted driving there from the hospital.

The document alleges Christensen failed field sobriety and breath alcohol tests.

His prior convictions for drunken driving came in June 1995, January 2005 and July 2012, according to the court document.

A felony drunken driving conviction is punishable by 13 months in a residential alcohol treatment program run by the Montana Department of Corrections, a consecutive, suspended sentence of five years either to the corrections department or the Montana State Prison, or between 13 months and five years of incarceration with the Corrections Department if the defendant already has been placed in treatment due to a prior conviction.

It also carries a fine of between $1,000 and $10,000.

Christensen initially was incarcerated in the Flathead County Detention Center where his bond was set at $25,000, but he later was released on his own recognizance.

His next hearing is set for Jan. 15.