Man sentenced for fourth DUI

A 32-year old Columbia Falls man was sentenced to 13 months with the Montana Department of Corrections after he pleaded guilty to his fourth DUI, a felony.

Flathead County District Court Judge Ted Lympus also ordered Chad Downen to be placed in an appropriate treatment facility, to serve a consecutive three-year suspended sentence, pay a $1,000 fine with half suspended and pay $800 in public defender fees with half suspended.

According to court records, Downen was arrested April 28, 2012, at about 11:35 p.m. after he was allegedly spinning brodies on Railroad St. in Columbia Falls.

Downen allegedly admitted he had been drinking, failed a field sobriety test and refused to provide a breath sample. A search of his traffic record uncovered three prior DUI convictions — in May 2003, July 2005 and February 2010.

He was charged with DUI No. 4, no insurance No. 2, driving with a suspended driver’s license, reckless driving and a warrant out of Columbia Falls City Court.