Man Who Killed Somers Teacher Pleads Guilty to Drug Charges

A Kalispell man convicted of negligent homicide after killing a Somers Middle School teacher in 2006 has pleaded guilty to a drug charge in Lake County.

Jason DeShazer pleaded guilty to criminal possession of dangerous drugs in Lake County District Court on Jan. 6. The change of plea hearing came a day before the 32-year-old man appeared in Flathead County District Court for a revocation hearing.

DeShazer was arrested in Lake County last September and charged with criminal possession of dangerous drugs and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. The second charge was dropped in the plea deal and DeShazer will be sentenced next month.

On Oct. 26, 2006, DeShazer was drunk behind the wheel of a vehicle when he crossed the centerline on Montana Highway 82 near the Flathead Waterfowl Production Area and crashed head on into a Subaru driven by Dawn Bowker, according to court documents. Bowker, a sixth grade teacher at Somers Middle School, died in the crash.

DeShazer pleaded guilty to negligent homicide in 2007 and was sentenced to 20 years at Montana State Prison with 10 years suspended. DeShazer was released on parole after 3 and a half years.

In November 2015, Flathead County Attorney Ed Corrigan filed a petition for revocation of a suspended sentence arguing that DeShazer had violated the terms of his parole. Corrigan told the Beacon that the petition for revocation stemmed from both the Lake County charges and a DUI DeShazer allegedly got in Missoula County. During the Jan. 7 revocation hearing, DeShazer entered general denials and he is expected to be back in court next month.