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Butte Woman Pleads Not Guilty in Crash at Capitol

By Beacon Staff

HELENA – A 21-year-old Butte woman accused of nearly crashing a stolen vehicle into the Capitol after leading police on a chase has pleaded not guilty to several charges.

Sarah E. Bunker appeared in District Court on Wednesday and denied a felony charge of theft and misdemeanor charges of fleeing and obstructing a peace officer. The Independent Record reports her trial has been scheduled for May 2.

Bunker is accused of stealing a Jeep Cherokee on Dec. 20 and of trying to avoid police when they spotted her with the vehicle near the Capitol. Court records say she drove up a dead-end parking drive and became lodged in a snow bank inches from the Capitol steps.

She fled on foot and was arrested a few blocks away while she was running through a yard. A 20-year-old female passenger in the vehicle was interviewed and released.

No one was injured in the crash.