From the Coruts - State District Court: Man sentenced to 10 years, five suspended, in sentence revocation

Darrell David Gardipee III was given in state District Court in Havre, Monday, a 10-year sentence, five suspended, for violating conditions of his release in a three-year-old case involving a high-speed chase in Havre.

State District Judge Jon Oldenburg imposed the sentence, crediting Gardipee with 171 days served and recommending he be screened and placed in a treatment program.

Gardipee was charged on accusations he fled from police who tried to pull him over for having illegal LED lights and not having matching license plates. Court documents say he led police on a high-speed chase through Havre after the officer attempted to pull him over shortly after 7 a.m. Nov. 20, 2017, endangering pedestrians and other vehicles.

He pleaded guilty in 2018 a plea agreement and Feb. 23, 2019, Oldenburg imposed a three-year deferred imposition of sentence on the felony and six months all suspended on a misdemeanor criminal mischief charge and six months with all but 24 hours suspended on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, Gardipee’s first DUI charge.

In January, the Hill County Attorney’s office filed a petition to revoke the deferred imposition of sentence on allegations that Gardipee had led Rocky Boy police on high-speed chases on two occasions and committed other violations including being cited with DUI in Havre, failure to pay, failure to report and use of alcohol.

In a May 20 hearing, Oldenburg found Gardipee had committed violations of conditions of his release.