Man pleads guilty to felony criminal endangerment
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Ronald Jason Beavers, 45, was initially charged with strangulation of a partner or family member. He entered a plea of guilty at District Court in Polson on Wednesday to the amended charge of felony criminal endangerment.
On the evening of October 29th, 2017, the victim returned from a basketball tournament in Browning to find Beavers intoxicated and in what appeared to be a jealous rage, according to court documents. He allegedly accosted her, called her names, and pinned her down on a bed. Documents state that he wrapped both hands around her neck. It was noted that Beavers strangled her for 30 seconds to a minute and that she couldn’t breathe.
Documents note that Beavers bit her arm and punched her during the altercation, and she sustained bleeding scrapes and lacerations to her upper arm. She is also described as having a visible injury to her face and red marks on her neck.
Responding officers documented a shattered mirror in a bedroom and damage to many items throughout the house. Beavers had already fled the scene before officers arrived. Beavers was picked up on an outstanding warrant on November 6, 2017, and he has been incarcerated since that date.
District Judge James Manley inquired as to how many times Beavers had been charged with beating women. Beavers acknowledged having beaten the alleged victim and another unidentified woman.
The plea agreement calls for a joint recommendation of an eight-year commitment with the Montana State Department of Corrections with four years suspended. Manley is not bound by this agreement. It also calls for Beavers to attend a 40-hour intervention program for batterers, a mental health evaluation, chemical dependency evaluation, and any treatment programs deemed appropriate and available by the DOC. Manley set the sentencing date for July 11.
