A woman who was under the influence of alcohol and drugs when she crossed the center line of U.S. Highway 2 and crashed into an oncoming vehicle in April 2011 pleaded no contest to the charge of felony vehicular assault in Flathead County District Court on Thursday.
Joanie Patricia Sheppard had a blood-alcohol level of .09 when she crashed her car into a pickup truck being driven by Dylan McPhee on April 29, 2011. A crime lab analysis also revealed meprobamate, morphine, hydrocodone and oxycodone in her system at the time of the crash. Police also found empty beer cans on the floor of Sheppard’s car. McPhee received spinal injuries and a broken nose in the accident.
During Thursday’s hearing Sheppard said that she had no recollection of what happened on the night of the accident.
A no contest plea is where a defendant neither admits or disputes the charges laid against them.
According to the plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend Sheppard receive a 10-year sentence to the Department of Corrections with five years suspended. During Thursday’s hearing, the defense said it would argue for a 10-year sentence with all of it suspended.
A sentencing has been set for Nov. 6.