Drunk driver who slammed into house, killing sleeping teen, gets prison time

A Flathead Valley man who drove drunk and killed a 15-year-old Evergreen girl last spring while she slept in her bedroom received a lengthy prison sentence Wednesday in Flathead County District Court.

Jared Allen Parsons, 32, received a 17-year sentence, with 10 years suspended, to the Montana State Prison from District Judge Robert Allison.

According to court documents, Parsons had a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal level when a Dodge Ram pickup he was driving crashed into a Spring Creek Drive residence in Evergreen at 2:16 a.m. Friday, April 26, 2019.

Fifteen-year-old Erin Howk was sleeping before she was struck by the truck. She died before authorities reached the scene. Though she lived in Evergreen, Howk attended Columbia Falls High School.

Testing of Parsons’ blood showed the alcohol level was 0.25. The legal limit in Montana is 0.08.

Court documents indicate Parsons had consumed alcohol and at a sports bar, the Scoreboard Pub, Grill and Casino, in Kalispell.

Many family and friends of Howk were emotional as they spoke at sentencing about the impact her death has had on them.

Brittainy Howk, Erin’s mother, spoke about her daughter.

“I had Erin when I was 16 so half my life has been with this person. Every year with her and then nothing — I don’t wish it on anyone,” Brittainy said. “I watched her die and didn’t hug or kiss her because I didn’t know she was dying. Brittainy said she was fine with Parsons’ sentence.

“It was pretty much along the lines of what I hoped for. I just pray he finds peace and makes something positive out of this,” Howk said. “I could be full of resentment and anger, but it’s not going to get me anywhere.”

Kylan Billsborough was Erin’s best friend. She sobbed when remembering her.

“I feel like I’ve lost something important. Erin was always there for me, someone I could depend on, someone I knew I could love forever,” Billsborough said. “I expected a future with her. I just don’t know what was going through his head when he made the decision to drive drunk.”

Bridget Vierzba is a close friend of Brittainy Howk and watched Erin grow up.

“We all lost an amazing girl and Brittainy had to bury her daughter because of a poor choice to use alcohol and drive,” Vierzba said. “It’s just disgusting to me.”

FLATHEAD COUNTY Attorney Travis Ahner talked about the difficulty of such cases, but also believed the sentence should send a message to the community.

“We know we have people who drive drunk all the time,” Ahner said. “Sometimes they hit a tree or drive into a fence or hit another car, but that’s not what happened. He hit a house where Erin slept.

“Let the folks in this community know it does matter,” Ahner said when recommending a prison sentence of 20 years with 13 suspended. “This community needs a wakeup call that these actions are not acceptable.”

Parsons’ attorney, Liam Gallagher, spoke of his client’s willingness to take responsibility for what he did and was at odds with what Ahner said about a wakeup call.

“The person most drastically affected by this, her mother, isn’t pushing for a long prison sentence and I think the court should listen to her,” Gallagher said. “Jared has demonstrated he has his head on straight. He asked for a meeting with Brittainy so he could look her in the eye and apologize.

“He even sat down and spoke with an attorney Brittainy had hired for a lawsuit against the bar which served him that night,” Gallagher said.

Chad Kingery, the owner and clinical director of Alpenglow, spoke about Parsons’ long history with alcohol and being raised by alcoholic parents. He evaluated him in October 2019.

“Jared grew up in a dysfunctional family where both parents were alcoholics and his mom died of alcohol-related complications in 2009,” Kingery said. “He began drinking when he was just 10 years old.

“He needs medically managed, long-term care.”

Gallagher recommended a Department of Corrections suspended sentence so Parsons could begin treatment at Glacier Hope Homes.

Dr. Mary Braud, the clinical director at Hope Homes, said Parsons had been admitted to the program once he can enter.

But Parsons’ treatment will likely occur in the WATCH West program the Montana Department of Corrections offers at Warm Springs for addiction treatment.

Rae Baker, a Probation and Parole officer for the Montana Department of Corrections, said she recommended the WATCH program and it would occur toward the end of his sentence.

PARSONS TOOK the stand and expressed remorse for what happened.

“Erin was safely asleep in her bed and I took an innocent life,” he said. “I can still hear her screams from that night.

“I’ll live a honest, clean life and I’ll work to help and keep others from doing the same.

“From the deepest part of me, sorry is all I have,” Parsons said.

Judge Allison questioned Parsons about his assets when he tried to determine the fines and restitution.

Parsons said he was born in Montana before moving to Seattle for work in 2007. He said he was electrocuted while working and then had a falling out with the owner of the company he worked for.

It resulted in Parson returning to Montana in 2019. He said he worked at Home Depot and in construction.

“But my doctor took me off work and the worker’s compensation case in Washington was frozen after this happened,” Parsons said.

Judge Allison said there had to be a deterrent effect in sentencing Parsons.

“The harm caused and the loss of a young life, it really doesn’t get any worse,” Allison said.

Parsons did receive credit for time served of 384 days.

Parsons was also ordered to pay $3,500 in restitution to the Montana Crime Victim Compensation fund and $15,000 to Brittainy Howk.

Reporter Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.