Butte man faces accusations of probation violations
A man sentenced nearly three years ago for his involvement in a local police chase was back in court recently facing accusations of violating his probation.
Kevin Daniel Johnson, 47, was sentenced in December 2021 to 10 years, seven suspended, after he pleaded guilty to criminal endangerment following an alleged theft from a Libby thrift shop.
According to court documents alleging his probation violations, Johnson was sent to the Nexus Treatment Center in Lewistown on Jan. 19, 2021. He was later moved to the pre-release center in Butte in Oct. 2021 and released from custody on May 10, 2022.
But Johnson is accused of having some troubles with sobriety in two incidents earlier this year. Feb. 16, he allegedly admitted to methamphetamine and alcohol use to a state Probation and Parole officer in Butte.
Then, on June 16, he was arrested and charged with felony DUI by a Montana Highway Patrol officer.
Johnson made no admissions to the accusations and his fate will be determined at a Nov. 1 hearing in Lincoln County.
Johnson led local law enforcement officers on a chase in August 2021 after getting caught stealing from a Libby thrift shop.
Johnson apologized for his actions during his sentencing in Lincoln County District Court. At the time, he told the court he saw his sentence as an “opportunity to help myself.”
Johnson came to the attention of authorities after responding law enforcement officers found him not far from the scene of an Aug. 16 theft from a Mineral Avenue store, according to court documents. In an affidavit, Libby Police officer Ron Buckner described locating Johnson in a vehicle matching a description given law enforcement about 9:52 p.m.
When Johnson asked for a reason for Buckner’s approach, the police officer told him that a surveillance camera had caught him stealing a bicycle and other items. At least one bicycle was loaded atop Johnson’s vehicle, court documents said.
During the ensuing conversation, Buckner wrote that Johnson admitted to possessing a suspended driver’s license. Dispatchers ran Johnson’s information and while he had insurance on the vehicle, the registration was expired.
After contacting his superiors, Buckner prepared to place Johnson under arrest. Johnson started his vehicle and looked up at Buckner and apologized before dumping the clutch and speeding off, court documents said. Although Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Derek Breiland, also on scene, successfully deployed his Taser, Johnson made it away.
The lawmen followed Johnson as he raced through the parking lot of a nearby community medical practice. Johnson eventually ditched his vehicle outside of a local medical center’s emergency room and took off on foot. Buckner caught up to him as he ran down Dakota Avenue, court documents said.
Johnson surrendered, gasping for breath, soon after. He was cuffed and taken to the Lincoln County Detention Center.
Authorities initially charged Johnson with misdemeanor counts of theft, obstructing a peace officer, driving a motor vehicle while suspended and operating with expired registration along with the felony criminal endangerment charge.
According to Montana Department of Corrections information, Johnson received a two-year suspended sentence in 2018 following a conviction for criminal distribution of dangerous drugs.