Shourds faces possible 10 years in prison
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A Pablo man admitted to his role in a high-speed pursuit with law enforcement in July. Shawn Curtis Shourds, 41, entered a plea of guilty at District Court in Polson on Aug. 26 to felony criminal endangerment.
Shourds’ plea agreement dismisses, at sentencing, two felony counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs. The charges stem from a pursuit with law enforcement on July 14.
The pursuit began when a Montana Highway Patrol trooper observed a motorist driving recklessly. The trooper activated his overhead lights in an attempt to initiate a traffic stop, but the motorist continued on and drove through several stop signs before turning onto U.S. Highway 93 and driving at speeds up to 90 mph.
The motorist attempted to turn onto Mud Lake Trail but was traveling too fast and missed the turn, causing his vehicle to end up on an adjacent walking path. The suspect then drove back onto U.S. Highway 93 into oncoming traffic in the wrong lane.
Eight other motorists had to take evasive action to avoid being hit head on. The Montana Highway Patrol trooper was able to perform a pursuit immobilization technique on the suspect’s vehicle causing it to roll off the highway and into a fence near the Lake County transfer station.
Shourds, who was on probation at the time, was identified as the driver. A search of the vehicle he was driving turned up about a gram of methamphetamine, approximately six grams of heroin and $901.
The plea was entered without a recommended sentencing, meaning Shourds will be subject to the maximum, which is 10 years in prison. District Judge James Manley set sentencing for Oct. 14. Shourds remains in the Lake County jail with bail set at $100,000.
