Missoula Crime Report: Less Cases This Week, But Two Trials Ended
Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - The Missoula County Attorney’s Office charged 12 criminal complaints this week, which is 14 less than last week and slightly lower than the weekly average. According to Chief Deputy County Attorney Matt Jennings, that is a big difference from what we have been seeing the past few months.
“I am not really sure that it is a difference in crime,” Jennings said. “Sometimes it is just staffing issues for police, our office, and the courts as well. We have had an uptick in average offenses. Luckily, there have been fewer violent offenses lately than there were maybe about a year ago. In our category of 12 felonies, we have three crimes of violence, three property crimes, four drug crimes, and two administrative crimes. I think this week they were both fugitive warrants.”
Jennings said both violent crimes this week involved families. Most of the violence they see is domestic in nature, but Jennings said they take those cases most seriously and always prioritize them above other cases.
In addition to the new cases this week, Jennings said there were two jury trials as well.
“On was an assault against a peace officer and that person was acquitted,” Jennings said. “We always think it is a very important process and respect the jury’s decisions if there wasn’t enough evidence. Late last night, a jury came back on a property crime case, which was a relatively large theft against a person in Seely Lake. In that case, there were two counts and they were both guilty. We hope the justice was served to that victim.”
On Monday, Jennings said two different people were arraigned for firearm incidents downtown.
“Also on Monday, a person named Grason Lamb was sentenced for a shooting outside a bar from September of 2021,” Jennings said. “That is always a reminder that alcohol and guns are really not a good mix and it is a way that people can get hurt. Those are cases that we take extremely seriously and we will try to seek justice through to the end.”
You can listen to Jennings’ full report below: