Plains man facing ninth DUI charge

An 88-year-old Plains man and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Elder has been charged with his ninth drunken driving offense.

Patrick Allen Pierre pleaded not guilty on April 20 in Lake County District Court to two counts of felony driving under the influence. According to a district court affidavit, Pierre has seven prior DUI convictions.

The latest charges stem from a pair of alleged incidents in March, where Pierre was discovered to have blood alcohol levels of more than twice the legal limit to drive, according to the affidavit.

On March 13, a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy allegedly found Pierre asleep behind the wheel of a vehicle parked alongside U.S. 93 near milepost 32. Pierre reportedly smelled of alcohol and was combative once roused. Law enforcement officers obtained a search warrant to perform a blood alcohol content test, which revealed Pierre to have a BAC of .207 percent, the affidavit states.

Less than two weeks later, on March 24, Pierre was again suspected of drunken driving after he was reported to have backed into a sign outside the 44 Bar near St. Ignatius. Unable to perform a field sobriety test, Pierre was taken to a local hospital where he was discovered to have a blood alcohol content of .227 percent, according to the affidavit.

Pierre is a CSKT tribal elder and member of the Salish-Pend d’Oreille Culture Committee.

Lake County District Court Judge Deborah K. Christopher originally revoked Pierre’s request for bond, however bond was later established at $20,000.

Christopher also granted a motion to transfer the case to Missoula County District Court Judge John W. Larson due to Pierre’s “significant local public relationship with ... the CSKT reservation.”

Pierre’s defense attorney was removed from the case after Pierre was deemed ineligible to receive representation from the Montana Office of Public Defenders.

A jury trial is scheduled for Aug. 21.