Man gets five years in state prison

A Lincoln County man will spend five years in Montana State Prison for violating his probation.

Lincoln County District Judge James Wheelis on Monday sentenced Jason Dean Allport to five years in Montana State Prison for violating his probation by moving from Kalispell to Missoula without notifying his probation officer. Allport has been in jail 90 days and will get credit for time served.

Before his sentencing, Allport took the stand to testify on his own behalf. He said he had moved to Missoula in hopes of getting a job and to find a surgeon who could complete a hernia procedure. During his year and a half on probation, Allport said he has lived in different sober homes and completed blood-alcohol content testing each morning and night. He also said he was an airman honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force. Allport asked to be put back on daily supervision, rather than serving time in prison.

“I am sincerely asking for forgiveness and help,” Allport said from the stand.

Next to testify was probation officer Steve Watson, who said Allport’s erratic living arrangements had made him difficult to monitor during his probation.

Watson also said he believed Allport’s significant mental health issues has added to the complexity of his probation. Lincoln County Attorney Bernard Cassidy noted that Allport had stopped going to chemical dependency treatment, although Watson said substance abuse has not been the primary issue since Allport began serving his probation for a fifth-or-more driving under the influence charge a year and a half ago.

“My concern is that he didn’t present an address to the court where he could live,” Watson said. “He’s proven he can stay off substances.”

After the testimony, Wheelis said Allport’s case was one of “too little, too late,” and sentenced him to five years in state prison.

Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at slarson@dailyinterlake.com.