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The Rest of the Story

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Anonymous

Guest
Funny- how these "agreements" wait til after the elections :???: .... I wonder if "Joe Blow" average citizen would have got offered a deal allowing them to walk out the door without spending a day in jail- and just paying a measly $4,000... It kind of reeks of the same odor as the Rush and Cindi McCain deals... Again money/power talks....


Plea agreement filed in Barkus boat crash case

By TRISTAN SCOTT Missoulian The Billings Gazette | Posted: Wednesday, November 10, 2010 10:00 pm


..KALISPELL — A plea deal calling for a three-year deferred sentence has been reached in the criminal case of state Sen. Greg Barkus, who is charged with three felonies for smashing his powerboat into a rocky shoreline along Flathead Lake, allegedly while drunk.

Under the agreement, Barkus would plead no contest to a felony count of criminal endangerment, and in exchange for his plea prosecutors would dismiss two felony counts of negligent vehicular assault.

With a no-contest plea, a defendant neither admits nor disputes a charge. In a criminal case, a no-contest plea has the same effect as a guilty plea, however.

Prosecutors say Barkus' blood-alcohol content was twice the legal driving limit — 0.16 percent — when sampled nearly two hours after the nighttime boating accident on Aug. 27, 2009. Barkus and his four passengers were injured in the wreck, including Republican U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg.

Rehberg's former state director, Dustin Frost, was in a coma for more than a week after the accident, while Barkus' wife, Kathy, and Rehberg's deputy chief of staff, Kristin Smith, both were injured.

If the Kalispell Republican successfully completes the three-year deferred sentence without any legal violations, the felony conviction would be expunged from his record.

Flathead County Attorney Ed Corrigan will not object to Barkus serving out his sentence on unsupervised probation,
according to the agreement, which was filed late Tuesday in Flathead County District Court. The conditions of his probation will be detailed at sentencing, and could include a prohibition on alcohol and bars.

If there are no conditional violations, Corrigan also would not object to ending the sentence after half of the term is served, though Barkus must file a motion for such an exception.

Barkus would not serve any prison time under the proposed agreement, but would be required to pay $4,000 in restitution to Montana.

Kalispell attorney Todd Glazier filed a motion Tuesday requesting that a Nov. 29 trial date be vacated and that a change-of-plea hearing be scheduled for the week of Nov. 22.

“He is getting ready to put this behind him, and he is very happy that the victims have all recovered and that everybody is doing OK,” Glazier said of Barkus.

The attorney rejected rumors that Barkus was receiving special treatment through the plea agreement, and said the negotiations would have been handled similarly in the case of almost any first-time felony offender.

“This is a standard deal. Anybody that has been charged with their first felony is allowed a deferment under the statute. It's not some conspiracy he's getting away with,” Glazier said.

Paul Ryan, a criminal defense attorney in Missoula, said the proposed sentence is consistent with similar cases he's defended, particularly when the victims are forgiving.

“It's certainly in the realm of reasonable,” Ryan said. “It's not out of the ordinary in that it's overly harsh, and it's not out of the ordinary in that it's overly easy. It's probably a good middle ground for a guy that's a first time offender, and in a case where the victims are not upset or ready to pounce on him.”

In many criminal cases, Ryan said, the victims have the power to influence the outcome, and the severity of a sentence hinges on their recommendations.

“A lot of times the victims really drive it,” Ryan said. “If they are known victims, family or friends, the chance of a sentence more favorable to the defendant is higher. I'd say the sentence seems right on point for the circumstances.”

Glazier, Barkus and Corrigan all signed the plea agreement, though the sentencing judge, John McKeon of Malta, has authority to accept or reject the plea deal at the sentencing hearing.

As of Wednesday afternoon, McKeon had not scheduled a change-of-plea hearing or set a date for sentencing. However, if the judge decides not to follow the agreement at sentencing, Barkus can withdraw his plea and proceed to trial.

The maximum penalty for criminal endangerment is 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine. Each of the assault charges carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
 

hopalong

Well-known member
Probabally happens in you court room all the time! :wink:

Or maybe i should say just outside the doors you find the envelope :roll:

Doubt that oldtimer even really read the part that states that ANYONE could have reached the same deal! Either that or he is blowing smoke as usual


EHHHHHH OLDTIMER, no envelopes this morning?????
Still going wee wee in your Depends over the election ? :roll:
 

Steve

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
Funny- how these "agreements" wait til after the elections

Altogether, there are 50 Montana State Senators. In 2010, 15 of them who are current members were ineligible to run for the senate again in November. They are: # Gregory Barkus

Gregory Barkus (b. November 29, 1946) is a Republican member of the Montana State Senate, representing District 4. State term limits disqualify him from re-election in 2010.

not being from Montana, is there another, "Sen. Greg Barkus" or does this issue have little to do with the recent election????
 

Lonecowboy

Well-known member
Steve said:
Oldtimer said:
Funny- how these "agreements" wait til after the elections

Altogether, there are 50 Montana State Senators. In 2010, 15 of them who are current members were ineligible to run for the senate again in November. They are: # Gregory Barkus

Gregory Barkus (b. November 29, 1946) is a Republican member of the Montana State Senate, representing District 4. State term limits disqualify him from re-election in 2010.

not being from Montana, is there another, "Sen. Greg Barkus" or does this issue have little to do with the recent election????

Steve- that would be former Senator
someone was embelishing a little.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Steve said:
Oldtimer said:
Funny- how these "agreements" wait til after the elections

Altogether, there are 50 Montana State Senators. In 2010, 15 of them who are current members were ineligible to run for the senate again in November. They are: # Gregory Barkus

Gregory Barkus (b. November 29, 1946) is a Republican member of the Montana State Senate, representing District 4. State term limits disqualify him from re-election in 2010.

not being from Montana, is there another, "Sen. Greg Barkus" or does this issue have little to do with the recent election????

You seem to have a short memory and/or poor reading comprehension...But being in a drunken incident is nothing new for Rehberg....This must make at least 4 or 5 in the last few years...
But this time its too bad he allowed his staff to be endangered while working for him on the government payroll- and returning from a drunken campaign party.....

Prosecutors say Barkus' blood-alcohol content was twice the legal driving limit — 0.16 percent — when sampled nearly two hours after the nighttime boating accident on Aug. 27, 2009. Barkus and his four passengers were injured in the wreck, including Republican U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg.

Rehberg's former state director, Dustin Frost, was in a coma for more than a week after the accident, while Barkus' wife, Kathy, and Rehberg's deputy chief of staff, Kristin Smith, both were injured.

Comically- if he had only been charged with a misdemeanor DUI instead of felonies- he would have had to spend at least one mandatory day in jail...
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
Funny- how these "agreements" wait til after the elections :???:


How did his being drunk affect the elections? He's an ass for drinking and boating, but what's the point of saying that the agreement was made after the elections?
 

Lonecowboy

Well-known member
hypocritexposer said:
Oldtimer said:
Funny- how these "agreements" wait til after the elections :???:


How did his being drunk affect the elections? He's an ass for drinking and boating, but what's the point of saying that the agreement was made after the elections?

yes since barkus was termed out and ineligible to run-
but somehow ot is tryin gto turn this around and make it somehow implicate Rehberg (who was a passanger and not charged with anything).
If this deal had been struck before the election maybe Rehberg would have only won by what, 15-20%?????
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Lonecowboy said:
Steve said:
Oldtimer said:
Funny- how these "agreements" wait til after the elections

Altogether, there are 50 Montana State Senators. In 2010, 15 of them who are current members were ineligible to run for the senate again in November. They are: # Gregory Barkus

Gregory Barkus (b. November 29, 1946) is a Republican member of the Montana State Senate, representing District 4. State term limits disqualify him from re-election in 2010.

not being from Montana, is there another, "Sen. Greg Barkus" or does this issue have little to do with the recent election????

Steve- that would be former Senator
someone was embelishing a little.

Were they really embellishing? On the date of the accident in Sept 09- he was a State Senator-- and unless he resigned over this incident- I think he still is until his successor can be sworn in- which is usually January....

Comical- how just because of following the cultist drumbeat- you all can and will protect a Politician that endangers government employees and goes midnight lake cruising with a drunk....
And also because of their cultist membership- support someone that because of their wealth/ability to hire good attorneys, political power and influence can make deals that the normal person could never get- even after coming close to killing several people... :(

Is that the new ********* platform (since Rehberg now calls himself a born again Tea Partyier) ? :???: :wink: :lol:
 

Steve

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
Steve said:
Oldtimer said:
Funny- how these "agreements" wait til after the elections

Altogether, there are 50 Montana State Senators. In 2010, 15 of them who are current members were ineligible to run for the senate again in November. They are: # Gregory Barkus

Gregory Barkus (b. November 29, 1946) is a Republican member of the Montana State Senate, representing District 4. State term limits disqualify him from re-election in 2010.

not being from Montana, is there another, "Sen. Greg Barkus" or does this issue have little to do with the recent election????

You seem to have a short memory and/or poor reading comprehension...But being in a drunken incident is nothing new for Rehberg....This must make at least 4 or 5 in the last few years...
But this time its too bad he allowed his staff to be endangered while working for him on the government payroll- and returning from a drunken campaign party.....

Prosecutors say Barkus' blood-alcohol content was twice the legal driving limit — 0.16 percent — when sampled nearly two hours after the nighttime boating accident on Aug. 27, 2009. Barkus and his four passengers were injured in the wreck, including Republican U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg.

Rehberg's former state director, Dustin Frost, was in a coma for more than a week after the accident, while Barkus' wife, Kathy, and Rehberg's deputy chief of staff, Kristin Smith, both were injured.

Comically- if he had only been charged with a misdemeanor DUI instead of felonies- he would have had to spend at least one mandatory day in jail...

I'm sorry if i don't see the "connection: with a deal and a former state senator and the past election .. and his passenger...

what bearing would the "deal" have on a passenger?

guilt by association?

I stand by my post... I don't see how this "deal" had anything to do with the election. or would have had any effect on the election.
 

Steve

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
Lonecowboy said:
Steve said:
not being from Montana, is there another, "Sen. Greg Barkus" or does this issue have little to do with the recent election????

Steve- that would be former Senator
someone was embelishing a little.

Were they really embellishing? On the date of the accident in Sept 09- he was a State Senator-- and unless he resigned over this incident- I think he still is until his successor can be sworn in- which is usually January....

Comical- how just because of following the cultist drumbeat- you all can and will protect a Politician that endangers government employees and goes midnight lake cruising with a drunk....
And also because of their cultist membership- support someone that because of their wealth/ability to hire good attorneys, political power and influence can make deals that the normal person could never get- even after coming close to killing several people... :(

Is that the new ********* platform (since Rehberg now calls himself a born again Tea Partyier) ? :???: :wink: :lol:

oh I see,... it's the tea partys' fault.. I should have picked that up right away... :? :???:
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Steve said:
Oldtimer said:
Steve said:
not being from Montana, is there another, "Sen. Greg Barkus" or does this issue have little to do with the recent election????

You seem to have a short memory and/or poor reading comprehension...But being in a drunken incident is nothing new for Rehberg....This must make at least 4 or 5 in the last few years...
But this time its too bad he allowed his staff to be endangered while working for him on the government payroll- and returning from a drunken campaign party.....

Prosecutors say Barkus' blood-alcohol content was twice the legal driving limit — 0.16 percent — when sampled nearly two hours after the nighttime boating accident on Aug. 27, 2009. Barkus and his four passengers were injured in the wreck, including Republican U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg.

Rehberg's former state director, Dustin Frost, was in a coma for more than a week after the accident, while Barkus' wife, Kathy, and Rehberg's deputy chief of staff, Kristin Smith, both were injured.

Comically- if he had only been charged with a misdemeanor DUI instead of felonies- he would have had to spend at least one mandatory day in jail...

I'm sorry if i don't see the "connection: with a deal and a former state senator and the past election .. and his passenger...

what bearing would the "deal" have on a passenger?

guilt by association?

I stand by my post... I don't see how this "deal" had anything to do with the election. or would have had any effect on the election.

Well Steve--if you think a U.S Representative that endangers his staff (taxpaid government employees) by going to a drunken campaign party that can only be easily accessed by lake- and going midnight lake cruising with a drunk is showing responsibilty- and it shouldn't be an election issue, then you are much less the person I thought you to be.... :(
Again- throwing out common sense morals and principles to follow a cultist drumbeat....
 

Tam

Well-known member
Oldtimer do you have any proof that Rehberg ordered his staffers to get on that boat and they didn't get on it of their own free will? Do you have any proof that Rehberg prevented his staffers from taking the wheel of the boat once Barkus had a few too many to drink. This is the problem of you blaming Rehberg, the MEN on that boat put themselves at risk when they did nothing. Rehberg can not he held responsible if he was not the one that owned or drove the boat OR FORCED the others onto the boat. :roll: He was as much a victim as his staffers and your hate for the man is coloring your jugdement as I expected it does when you sit behind the bench.


BTW Oldtimer just wondering how many people have you put at risk when you spent the afternoon in the wateringhole and then drove home? :?
 

Lonecowboy

Well-known member
Steve said:
Oldtimer said:
Lonecowboy said:
Steve- that would be former Senator
someone was embelishing a little.

Were they really embellishing? On the date of the accident in Sept 09- he was a State Senator-- and unless he resigned over this incident- I think he still is until his successor can be sworn in- which is usually January....

Comical- how just because of following the cultist drumbeat- you all can and will protect a Politician that endangers government employees and goes midnight lake cruising with a drunk....
And also because of their cultist membership- support someone that because of their wealth/ability to hire good attorneys, political power and influence can make deals that the normal person could never get- even after coming close to killing several people... :(

Is that the new ********* platform (since Rehberg now calls himself a born again Tea Partyier) ? :???: :wink: :lol:

oh I see,... it's the tea partys' fault.. I should have picked that up right away... :? :???:

Yes- democrats are always proseceuted to the FULL extent of the law-
TEA partiers are the only ones allowed to plea bargain- and republicans are never even charged in the first place!
Didn't you know that Steve??
democrats are all about taking full personal responsibility for their actions!
 

Steve

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
Steve said:
Oldtimer said:
You seem to have a short memory and/or poor reading comprehension...But being in a drunken incident is nothing new for Rehberg....This must make at least 4 or 5 in the last few years...
But this time its too bad he allowed his staff to be endangered while working for him on the government payroll- and returning from a drunken campaign party.....



Comically- if he had only been charged with a misdemeanor DUI instead of felonies- he would have had to spend at least one mandatory day in jail...

I'm sorry if i don't see the "connection: with a deal and a former state senator and the past election .. and his passenger...

what bearing would the "deal" have on a passenger?

guilt by association?

I stand by my post... I don't see how this "deal" had anything to do with the election. or would have had any effect on the election.

Well Steve--if you think a U.S Representative that endangers his staff (taxpaid government employees) by going to a drunken campaign party that can only be easily accessed by lake- and going midnight lake cruising with a drunk is showing responsibilty- and it shouldn't be an election issue, then you are much less the person I thought you to be.... :(
Again- throwing out common sense morals and principles to follow a cultist drumbeat....

I'm sorry, I don't do guilt by association like they do in your court..

but I guess you and your fellow Mauritanians sent the poor guy packing for showing such poor judgment...
 

Tam

Well-known member
Lonecowboy said:
Steve said:
Oldtimer said:
Were they really embellishing? On the date of the accident in Sept 09- he was a State Senator-- and unless he resigned over this incident- I think he still is until his successor can be sworn in- which is usually January....

Comical- how just because of following the cultist drumbeat- you all can and will protect a Politician that endangers government employees and goes midnight lake cruising with a drunk....
And also because of their cultist membership- support someone that because of their wealth/ability to hire good attorneys, political power and influence can make deals that the normal person could never get- even after coming close to killing several people... :(

Is that the new ********* platform (since Rehberg now calls himself a born again Tea Partyier) ? :???: :wink: :lol:

oh I see,... it's the tea partys' fault.. I should have picked that up right away... :? :???:

Yes- democrats are always proseceuted to the FULL extent of the law-
TEA partiers are the only ones allowed to plea bargain- and republicans are never even charged in the first place!
Didn't you know that Steve??
democrats are all about taking full personal responsibility for their actions![/quote]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Like Turbo Tax Tim and countless other Dems have taken full responsibility for cheating on their taxes.
Like the Black Panthers were forced by the DOJ to take responsibility for their actions.
Like The Union Thugs took responsibility for beating a Townhaller.
Like ACORN took responsibility for the Voter Fraud
Like Nancy Pelosi took responsibility for lieing to Congress over waterboarding
Like Barney Frank took responsibility for Fanny and Freddy
Like Chris Dodds took responsibility for his sweet heart mortgage deal
Like Charlie Rangle took Responsibility for his taxes
Like Maxine Waters is taking responsibility for her ethics charges.
Like John Kerry took responibility for the taxes on his yacht
Like John Edwards took responsilibity for his child
Like AL Gore took responsilibity for the sex assault charges
Like Obama and Pelosi are taking responsibility for the election losses.
Like Clinton took Responsibility for the stain on Monica's dress
Do we need to keep going? :wink:

The Dems take RESPONSIBILITY for their actions :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Lonecowboy you crack me up :wink:
 

Steve

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
then you are much less the person I thought you to be...

I seldom worry about what others think of me... but while we are on the subject...

if you thought I was more of the person you figured I was.. (someone you respect) then you wouldn't have been so disrespectful towards me...

so how can you really think less of me... you've' called me a derogatory name for months now for no good reason other then you think it is funny...

I wouldn't do that to a piss`ant let alone a person I thought something of... and there have been a few piss`ants on here.. but I never stooped to the level you do regularly on here towards me...

so why should I care if that your low opinion of me just got lower.. ?
 

loomixguy

Well-known member
Just more OTopcrisy, eh?

A good point was raised...just how many times has the blustering blowhard driven home from the "watering hole" OVER the legal limit? Or used a county vehicle (when he was the Sheriff of Nottingham) on personal business?

Nattering nitwit.
 
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