Man sentenced for high-speed chase
Montana Department of Corrections photo
By BRETT BERNTSEN
Lake County Leader
A Great Falls man accused of leading Lake County authorities on a high-speed car chase in the fall of 2015 was sentenced last week to spend a decade in the custody of the Montana Department of Corrections.
Marshall Duane Dubois, 32, received a combined 10 year sentence for possession of dangerous drugs and criminal endangerment, with half of that time suspended. Following prosecutor’s recommendations, Lake County District Court Judge Deborah K. Christopher ran the terms consecutive to an eight year Montana State Prison sentence Dubois recently received for similar offenses in Cascade County.
According to court documents, Dubois attempted to flee from authorities on Oct. 3, driving at speeds up to 120 mph and traveling for a short distance along a stretch of bike path near Polson Hill. Dubois only stopped after his tires were punctured by spike strips deployed by police officers in Ronan, or as Deputy County Attorney Ben Anciaux said in courtroom testimony, “Until the horse under him died.”
Dubois admitted to using methamphetamine after authorities noticed plastic baggies containing a white powdery substance in the front seat of his vehicle, according to court documents.
Defense attorney Britt Cotter requested that Judge Christopher run the sentences concurrent with Dubois’ eight-year prison term, but Anciaux objected, stating that Dubois continued to engage in dangerous behavior following the incident.
“He goes to Great Falls and essentially does the exact same thing,” Anciaux said, referring to the high speed car chase. “I don’t see any reason to give him a break.”
Judge Christopher agreed, noting Dubois extensive criminal history, including multiple stints in drug treatment programs.
“You’ve been through just about all the programs the (Department of Corrections) has,” she said.
Dubois expressed regret for his actions and said that he was at an “all time low in his life.”
“I know it’s no excuse,” he said. “But I was acting on impulse instead of rational thinking.”