Driver gets 5 years for vehicular assault
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POLSON — A Polson man whose drunken driving caused a Missoula woman to be seriously injured last spring was sentenced Wednesday in Lake County District Court.
Benjamin Alvin Morris, 59, Polson, was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for five years, none suspended with credit for time served, for negligent vehicular assault, a felony.
Morris will to be screened for mental health and alcohol treatment programs.
The court did not administer the lighter sentence incorporated in the plea agreement. The harsher sentence, according to Judge Manley, reflects Morris’ considerable history of breaking the law with five previous DUI convictions, the difficulty of Morris’ supervision, the seriousness of the crime, and the consequences to the victim.
“These crimes are among the most dangerous we face,” Judge Manley said. “The victim’s life has been changed forever.”
While Morris was driving intoxicated on the wrong side of Highway 93 on April 3, 2015, he hit a car nearly head on in the Ninepipe area, causing severe injury to the driver. She underwent surgery to have her spleen removed and may need to have her foot amputated in the future, court documents state.
Morris muffled a quiet apology during sentencing. He has paid $3,000 of the total $15,772.26 amount of restitution imposed.
