Suspended sentence for man who crashed into trailer, shot at Lolo bar
A man who admitted to shooting his gun into a bar outside Lolo and crashing his truck into a nearby trailer last year has received a suspended 20-year prison sentence.
Craig M. McBeath, 58, pleaded guilty to three felony counts of assault with a weapon in August after reaching a plea deal with Missoula County prosecutors.
He was also initially charged with four felony counts of criminal endangerment, but those were downgraded to misdemeanor counts of negligent endangerment.
McBeath pleaded guilty to all counts under the plea deal, and prosecutors recommended a suspended sentence. Missoula County District Judge Jason Marks followed the recommendations during his sentencing hearing last month, according to court documents.
According to charging documents, McBeath admitted to driving his truck into a camping trailer parked outside the Roper Lounge outside Lolo on Sept. 30, 2023. Three children were inside the camper and called 911 to report that at least one of them was hurt.
The crash pushed the trailer back 20 feet from his original location, according to the charges.
He then fired at least two shots from his rifle, according to witnesses, one of which he allegedly told officers he had fired at the trailer. The other he fired through the window of the building before reportedly walking inside and sitting down at the bar, charges state.
Missoula County sheriff's deputies responded and arrested McBeath without incident.
McBeath was released after sentencing and is required to abide by the terms of his probation, including not drinking and remaining on mental health medication.
Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. State Bureau Reporter
