Lincoln County man sentenced to prison for DUI

A Lincoln County man who plead guilty to drunk driving in Montana 19th Judicial District Court received a 13 month prison sentence with three years suspended and recommendation to treatment on November 5.

During the period of his three year suspended sentence, Steffen will be monitored by Adult Probation and Parole, including reporting on his movements and residence, submitting monthly reports and prohibition from owning or possessing firearms.

Steffen plead guilty to driving under the influence or drugs with alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more, fifth or subsequent offense on September 17, three days before his trial was scheduled to begin.

His original charges also included driving while suspended and driving without insurance.

On Dec. 2, 2017, Steffen was pulled over by Montana State Trooper Katherine Trewick on Highway 93 entering Eureka, according to her affidavit. Trewick was responding to a 911 call reporting a speeding vehicle that was “driving all over the road.”

The witness, a retired law enforcement officer, followed Steffen for over eight miles and filed a witness statement, according to the affidavit.

Trewick noted that Steffen “emitted odor of alcohol from his breath, his eyes were watery, and he had loss of fine motor skills in his fingers.”

Steffen also had difficulty retrieving his Montana ID, and claimed three different cities for his residence.

During the stop and later at the Eureka Police Station, Steffen refused any alcohol tests, but Trewick noted his apparent intoxication following a test of his ability to follow an object with his eyes.

A blood draw was used to determine Steffen’s blood alcohol level.