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Counties dismissing charges, unable to prosecute crimes because of overcrowding

by DARRELL EHRLICK Daily Montanan
| December 13, 2024 7:00 AM

At a recent meeting, Lake County Attorney James Lapotka told a group of lawmakers, peace officers and judges about two recent cases his office handled that protected Montanans’ Constitutional rights — but had tragic results.

Lake County released a person from jail who later went to a relative’s home, set it on fire with gasoline and tried to fire a crossbow at a person because the former prisoner was convinced his relative was possessed by the devil.

Another case centered on a person being brought into custody after attacking another resident with a hammer.

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