Corey Spindler was facing felony drug charges in two separate cases when he was arrested for speeding recklessly through the Montana Tech campus and almost hitting students during a police chase in February.
He faced four felony counts of criminal endangerment and five misdemeanors in the chase case, including reckless driving and fleeing from police, and promptly pleaded guilty to all charges on March 27.
Spindler
Public defender Eleanor Maloney expressed surprise at Spindler’s immediate guilty pleas, leading District Judge Robert Whelan to postpone the arraignment for a week for Spindler to reconsider. However, he ultimately proceeded with the guilty pleas.
According to Maloney, Spindler’s decision was driven by his urgent need for treatment to address the harm he was causing himself and the community. He acknowledged his wrongdoings and sought help.
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Spindler’s wish for treatment was granted as Judge Whelan sentenced him to 10 years in the custody of the Montana Department of Corrections, with five years suspended and running concurrently for the felony charges.
He has already been screened for a substance abuse treatment program and is required to complete it while serving his sentence.
Additionally, shorter jail sentences were imposed on misdemeanor charges, with fines totaling $1,350 for the other misdemeanors, all running concurrently with the DOC sentence.
Spindler also pleaded guilty in three additional felony cases involving drug possession and failure to register as a violent or sexual offender over the past year.
Prosecutors and Judge Krueger sentenced Spindler to five years in DOC custody, with some years suspended, in these cases, running concurrently with the main sentence imposed by Judge Whelan.
Prosecutor Ellen Donohue acknowledged Spindler’s need for treatment despite the serious nature of the police chase incident. She highlighted the near-miss of students during the chase as a concerning aspect.
Spindler apologized to Tech officials and Butte police via video from jail, expressing remorse for his actions and the potential harm caused.
The incident began when a Butte police officer observed Spindler driving recklessly, leading to a chase that involved dangerous maneuvers and ended with Spindler’s arrest in March.
Mike Smith is a reporter at the Montana Standard with an emphasis on government and politics.
