Mont. judge on DUI task force charged with DUI

 

John Grant Emeigh of The Montana Standard

Friday, April 8, 2011 11:45 am

 

Charging documents allege a Butte justice of the peace was found wandering around the police station under the influence of drugs on a Saturday in November. 

Robert “Bob” E. Lee was charged Thursday in Butte district court with misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Lee is accused of driving his vehicle in Butte on the morning of Nov. 13, 2010, while under the influence of the methadone, which is classified as a dangerous drug, according to court documents. 

Assistant attorney general Chad Parker of Helena filed the charge.

An affidavit alleges Butte police officers found Lee at the police station about 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, appearing confused and under the influence of either alcohol or a narcotic. Lee allegedly was found by police officers knocking on the window in the police station lobby at 225 N. Alaska. 

Lee asked officers to let him into the courthouse because he had a wedding to perform that morning. When the officers told him they didn’t have access to the courthouse, Lee allegedly said he would perform the wedding ceremony in the lobby of the police station, the nine-page affidavit states. 

Officers reported that Lee appeared to be sweating profusely and appeared confused. At one point, officers reported that Lee walked to the third floor of the police station to get paperwork even though he doesn’t have an office in the police station. 

Lee allegedly told officers he had driven to the courthouse that morning, and police say they found his vehicle parked behind the courthouse in a handicapped zone. 

Since Lee appeared to be under the influence, police took him to the jail to undergo field sobriety testing, which he allegedly failed to perform properly. 

He was taken to St. James Healthcare for a blood draw to be tested for possible drug intoxication. Toxicology results determined Lee had methadone in his system, the affidavit says. Methadone is a synthetic opioid used to manage chronic pain or as treatment for opioid dependency. 

Police found a wedding party waiting for Lee at the courthouse about 10:30 a.m. Charging documents claim police also found Lee’s driver’s license and some credit cards on the ground outside the courthouse. 

The misdemeanor DUI charge carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and up to a $1,000 fine. District judges Kurt Krueger and Brad Newman recused themselves from presiding over Lee’s case because they work with him. 

District Judge Loren Tucker will hear the case. 

Lee, a retired Butte police officer, has been a justice of the peace in Butte for about 10 years. He played an instrumental role in starting the newly formed DUI court along with justice Debra Williams. An earlier story incorrectly reported the Lee served as the DUI court judge. However, Williams is the DUI court presiding judge.

In previously interviews, Lee told The Montana Standard that there is no merit to the incident and declined to discuss the case.

Courtesy photo Robert E. ‘Bob’ Lee

 

LINK TO COURT DOCUMENTS:

http://www.mtstandard.com/pdf_1ee5b7ec-6209-11e0-9aca-001cc4c002e0.html