The fourth and final suspect in the Creston murder case is expected to plead guilty to accountability to deliberate homicide in May.
Christopher Michael Hansen signed a plea agreement this week and is scheduled to appear in court on May 4. According to court records, prosecutors are expected to recommend a 50-year sentence to the Montana State Prison at a yet-to-be scheduled sentencing hearing.
Hansen is one of four people accused of being involved in the May 2016 murder of Wade Allen Rautio. According to court documents, Melisa Ann Crone ordered Robert Wittal, David Toman and Hansen to kill Rautio, who was living in her Evergreen home at the time. Wittal was charged with deliberate homicide, and Crone, Hansen and Toman were charged with accountability to deliberate homicide. Crone was also charged with criminal possession of drugs.
Wittal was convicted of homicide at trial in October 2016 and sentenced to 110 years in prison earlier this year. On March 15, Crone pleaded guilty to felony criminal distribution of dangerous drugs. In return, prosecutors agreed to drop the charge for accountability to homicide. Crone will be sentenced on May 25, and prosecutors and the defense are expected to jointly recommend a 40-year sentence to the Montana Women’s Prison with 20 years suspended.
Toman pleaded guilty on March 23 to accountability to deliberate homicide, but then, in testimony during his change of plea hearing, wavered on his involvement in the crime. District Court Judge Dan Wilson rejected the plea and advised Toman to spend more time with his attorney before rescheduling the change of plea hearing for April 27.