Convicted bail jumper fails probation on first day

A 35-year-old Kalispell woman convicted in November for writing bad checks and bail jumping now faces a petition to revoke her deferred sentence for failing to appear for her probation officer.

Rachel Matt received a nine-year deferred net sentence on Nov. 6, 2014 for writing 18 bad checks at the Los Caporales restaurant in Kalispell from Nov. 1 through Nov. 20, 2013 and for bail-jumping.

Flathead County District Court Judge Robert Allison ordered Rachel Matt to pay $7,340 in restitution and $400 in public defender fees. She had faced up to 10 years in prison for the felony bad check charge.

Circumstances took a turn when Kalispell police responding to a domestic disturbance on July 22, 2014 found Matt and her boyfriend at their home very intoxicated and injured. Both were charged with partner-family member assault.

Matt didn’t show up for a revocation hearing after she was released on her own recognizance, and Allison issued a bench warrant with a $100,000 bond. Matt did show up in court on Sept. 30 and was sentenced on Nov. 6 as per a June plea agreement.

On Dec. 16, 2014, however, Matt failed to show up at the Montana Probation and Parole Office in Kalispell to sign a form stating her probation conditions. Her probation officer never saw her again.

A petition to revoke her deferred sentence was filed Dec. 19, and Judge Allison issued a bench warrant with a $50,000 bond. Matt showed up in Justice Court for an initial appearance on Jan. 20 and was provided a public defender.

She appeared before Judge Allison on Feb. 19 and admitted that the probation violation allegations were true. Allison revoked her deferred sentence, denied her release from the county jail, and set a revocation hearing for March 5.