BOZEMAN — A 30-year-old Belgrade man has acknowledged helping a suspect in an attempted rape flee Bozeman.
William Michael Smith pleaded guilty Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge of obstructing a peace officer for giving Kevin Briggs a ride from Bozeman to Missoula on Feb. 1, hours after he escaped from police who had arrested him in a rape case.
Smith has agreed to plead guilty to a drug charge in a plea agreement that reduced the obstruction charge from a felony. Prosecutors say they will recommend a six-month jail term when Smith is sentenced on Jan. 14.
Smith has been jailed since he was charged on April 23.
Briggs was arrested in Portland, Oregon on Feb. 21. He faces trial in February 2015 on several charges including attempted sexual intercourse without consent and two assault charges.