Vaska sentenced for DUI charge
courtesy photo
Brennan Vaska
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A Polson man was committed to the Montana Department of Corrections for 13 months on a felony charge of driving while under the influence.
Brennan Keith Vaska, 27, was also fined $5,000 for the DUI, $100 for misdemeanor theft and ordered to pay $800 for the cost of his public defender. District Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher handed down the sentence on Jan. 30.
According to court records, on Sept. 20, 2019, law enforcement officers were informed of a car theft from the Polson Town Pump. Within minutes, a Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Police Officer located the suspected stolen vehicle at the intersection of Light Road and O’Brien Road and initiated a traffic stop.
Vaska was identified as the driver and lone occupant of the vehicle. He is alleged to have admitted to the officer that he stole the vehicle because it was running and that no one was in the vehicle and he needed a ride home. He also smelled of alcohol and showed signs of intoxication on field sobriety tests. He refused a preliminary breath test.
Court records show Vaska has three prior convictions. The car that was taken for the joyride was valued at less than $1,500 and that amount is a misdemeanor. Vaska was given credit for the 132 days jail time already served.
