Eureka probationer faces new felony charge
Dec. 5—A Eureka man on probation is facing new charges after he allegedly left the scene of an accident earlier this fall.
Marc Joseph Bessette Jr., 41, is accused of felony possession of dangerous drugs and failure to give notice of an accident by quickest means, a misdemeanor.
Bessette pleaded not guilty to the offenses on Nov. 27 in Lincoln County District Court. His next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 29.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Lincoln County Sheriff's Office Deputy Cody DeWitt was dispatched to the intersection of Purdy Drive and Sinclair Creek Road, east of Eureka, for a crashed and abandoned vehicle in a private field.
When DeWitt ran a records check on the license plate number, he determined it was registered to a 2017 white GMC Sierra owned by Bessette. DeWitt reported tire tracks were visible leaving Purdy Drive near the Sinclair Creek Road intersection, going through the grass, a fence and into a field. The officer reported damage to the front of the vehicle with vegetation stuck in the bumper and on the passenger side of the windshield.
DeWitt also reported minor damage to the sides of the vehicle and a toolbox that was broken and ejected from the bed of the truck. A rear window was also broken.
DeWitt reported photographing the vehicle and seeing multiple, empty alcoholic beverage containers in the bed of the truck. He also reported seeing a partially full box of beer bottles on the passenger side floorboard along with an empty beer bottle in the center console of the truck.
During the search, Deputy Clint Heintz requested a K-9 and a border patrol unit responded. A sniff of the vehicle did not indicate an odor of narcotics. A Glock 45 9mm handgun and 18 rounds of ammunition was found under the gas pedal. A tool bag was also found that held a clear brown bottle with a white substance in the bottom and a small spoon connected to the cap. White residue was also found on the end of the spoon, according to DeWitt's statement.
After a tow truck driver arrived, the officers learned Bessette had called to get the truck towed. He allegedly said a friend had run the truck off the road. He was told if there was any property damage, the incident needed to be reported to law enforcement.
DeWitt reported that Bessette never reported the incident and didn't contact the tow truck driver after the initial phone call.
DeWitt reported testing the contents of the brown container and it indicated it was positive for cocaine. The gun and ammunition was seized because of Bessette's probation status.
Bessette was initially held on $25,000 bail before his release.
Bessette is on probation in relation to a December 2020 case when he was accused of driving under the influence. Court documents indicate Bessette had previous DUIs in Connecticut and Minnesota. Bessette eventually pleaded guilty to an amended charge of criminal endangerment and received a 5-year suspended sentence.
In 2021, probation officer Steve Watson filed a petition to revoke Bessette's sentence after he was found with three guns, a violation of his probation. Bessette was re-sentenced to a 5-year suspended sentence.
Probation officer Alice Rhodes filed a petition to revoke his suspended sentence in October 2023.
A conviction for possession of dangerous drugs may result in a maximum 5-year sentence in the Montana State Prison. A conviction for failure to give notice of an accident may result in a maximum term of 20 days in the county jail.
