District Court

• Donnie Wayne Cunningham appeared in 3rd Judicial District Court on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 before Judge Ray Dayton, where he was given a three-year suspended commitment to the Montana Department of Corrections for a felony count of negligent vehicular assault after pleading guilty the same day. A misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of alcohol was dismissed per a plea agreement with the State of Montana.

According to the affidavit filed by the state in support of the charge, on Aug. 11, 2022 Trooper Thomas Renz was dispatched to a one-vehicle rollover accident on Montana Highway 1 where a female passenger had been ejected and her arm was trapped under the vehicle. She was transported by LifeFlight and treated for serious bodily injuries.

Renz identified the driver as Cunningham, who when questioned by Renz about the accident stated he believed he had fallen asleep while driving and that he had smoked marijuana that morning and used methamphetamine about four days prior, according to the affidavit.