Meacham charged with DUI after early morning wreck

An alleged drunk driver tried unsuccessfully to convince Libby police officers he wasn’t behind the wheel of a passenger car that struck a parked vehicle last month despite being found in the driver’s seat.

Authorities have charged Jessie William Meacham, 38, with driving under the influence, fifth or subsequent offense — a felony — driving a motor vehicle while suspended or revoked and operating without liability insurance. He pleaded not guilty during his June 28 arraignment in Lincoln County District Court.

Officers arrived at the crash scene on East Fourth Street about 1:13 a.m., June 12 and found an Oldsmobile registered to Meacham with significant front-end damage. In an affidavit, Libby Police officer Cody DeWitt wrote that he spotted a man, later identified as Meacham, in the driver’s seat.

DeWitt wrote that Meacham appeared intoxicated. He spoke with slow, slurred speech while his eyes were glossy, bloodshot and unfocused, according to court documents. Meacham smelled strongly of an alcoholic beverage, DeWitt recalled.

Meacham allegedly told DeWitt he was a passenger in the vehicle, repeatedly denying he was behind the wheel when the Oldsmobile crashed.

DeWitt wrote that investigators could not find the car’s ignition key immediately following the crash. Meacham eventually claimed the driver had fled the scene, court documents said.

Officers asked Meacham to exit the wrecked car, a task he struggled with, DeWitt wrote. When DeWitt announced he wanted Meacham to perform a field sobriety test, the other man again claimed someone else had driven the vehicle.

“You know that I’m drunk,” Meacham said, according to DeWitt, before declining the test and refusing to give a breath sample.

Following the refusals, DeWitt arrested Meacham and asked for the car keys. Meacham allegedly said they likely were in vehicle and asked that investigators retrieve his phone for him. As he walked toward Sgt. John Davis of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Meacham struggled to maintain his balance, DeWitt wrote.

Surveying the wreck, Meacham allegedly swore.

“Is that my car?” he asked the law enforcement officials at the scene, according to court documents.

As Meacham was placed into the rear of DeWitt’s police vehicle, Davis began photographing the scene. He found a box of beer cans on the floorboard near the rear passenger seat, court documents said. Empties surrounded it, according to the affidavit.

Meanwhile, DeWitt learned from dispatchers that Meacham’s driver’s license was revoked and his vehicle lacked insurance. They also informed him of Meacham’s multiple previous driving under the influence convictions in 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2016. Three occurred in Montana while the 2008 conviction was out of Alaska.

Davis spoke with the individual who reported the crash. He told investigators he watched Meacham try and drive off, but was stymied by something dragging from the Oldsmobile. The car died soon after.

The witness told authorities he worried Meacham would leave the scene and continue driving, court documents said.

Authorities took Meacham to the Lincoln County Detention Center, where DeWitt sought a warrant to secure a sample of his blood. According to court documents, detention center personnel recovered the keys to the Oldsmobile in Meacham’s underwear.

Driving under the influence, fifth or subsequent offense, carries a punishment of at least 13 months with the state Department of Corrections and a fine of between $5,000 and $10,000. Upon conviction, authorities seize the vehicle used in the incident.

Misdemeanor driving while suspended or revoked is punishable by $500 and six months in county jail. Misdemeanor operating without liability insurance comes with a minimum fine of $250.

An omnibus hearing is scheduled for Oct. 4 with a pretrial conference to follow on Nov. 8. Were the case to go to trial, it would begin Dec. 14.