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Lockman, said Nov. 20 it was shameful Beach had been released without some- one else being charged in the crime.
Lockman for years counted herself among those who believed in Beach’s innocence. She said she became uncer- tain over the past two years and came to view him as “a con, a manipulator” who was willing to hurt others for his own bene t.
In his order, Bullock did not directly weigh in on whether Beach was innocent or not, and a spokesman said the gover- nor would have no further comment on the issue.
Beach was released for 18 months beginning in 2011 after Montana District Judge E. Wayne Phillips ordered a new trial, based on witness testimony that Nees died in a ght among a gang of girls.
But the state Supreme Court blocked the trial, sending Beach back to prison. Phillips, who has since retired, told The Associated Press on Nov. 20 he was pleased to see Beach nally free. Beach already has proven he can handle life outside prison by staying employed and out of trouble when he was previously released, Phillips said.
HELENA
4. State Begins Review of Criminal Justice System
The state is reviewing its criminal justice system with the goal of reducing spending and lowering recidivism rates while improving public safety.
State o cials say despite a general decline in the crime and arrest rates between 2008 and 2014, the state prison population and corrections spending have increased.
“A thorough examination of our crim- inal justice system is long overdue,” Gov. Steve Bullock said last week. “We must determine what is driving the growth in our prison population. We’re at a pivotal moment as our prison population nears capacity, and we must take a proactive and collaborative approach to establish- ing a more e ective system that bolsters public safety.”
The state’s total crime rate decreased by 7 percent from 2008 to 2014, while the prison population increased by 7 percent. Total corrections spending over that same period of time has increased 16 per- cent, from $157 million to $182 million, o cials said.
Bullock, Sen. Cynthia Wolken of Mis- soula and District Judge Ingrid Gus- tafson of Billings announced the start of the Justice Reinvestment Initiative in Montana. The Justice Center of The Council of State Governments along with the state Commission on Sentenc- ing will examine the state’s crime and arrest trends, sentencing laws, types of supervision and the e ectiveness of its rehabilitation programs and recommend improvements.
The commission — which includes members from the legislative and judi- cial branches along with the governor’s administration — will recommend legis- lation based on the results of the study.
BOZEMAN
5. Author Greg Mortenson to Retire From Charity
“Three Cups of Tea” author Greg Mortenson, who has spent four years weathering accusations that his best-selling book contained fabrications and that he mismanaged the charity he co-founded, will retire in January, Cen- tral Asia Institute o cials announced.
The announcement comes as the Boz- eman, Montana-based charity works to turn around ve years of declining dona- tions and refocus its mission from build- ing schools in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Mortenson co-founded the nonpro t organization in 1996.
It was Mortenson’s decision to retire as a Central Asia Institute employee and to resign his position as a non-voting mem- ber of its board, chairman Steve Bennett and executive director Jim Thaden said.
Mortenson said in a 2014 inter- view with The Associated Press that he would leave the organization if he were ever a liability, but Thaden and Barrett insisted that was not the reason for his resignation.
In 2011, “60 Minutes” and author Jon Krakauer, who wrote the non ction best- seller “Into the Wild,” broadcast and pub- lished reports that Mortenson had made up many of the events in “Three Cups of Tea,” which told the story of how Morten- son decided to build schools in Pakistan after becoming lost during a mountain- eering expedition.
The reports also accused Mortenson of using the charity to enrich himself and promote his books without sharing the royalties or speaking fees, leading to an investigation by the Montana attorney general’s o ce.
A 2012 settlement restructured the Central Asia Institute, removed Morten- son as a voting board member and stripped him of any nancial oversight. Since then, he has continued to be a full- time employee of Central Asia Institute, earning nearly $194,000 last year in sal- ary and bene ts.
YELLOWSTONE
6. Park Softens Stance on Bison Slaughter Targets
Yellowstone National Park is back- ing o its proposal to kill roughly 1,000 wild bison this winter as o cials seek to reduce the animals’ annual migration into Montana.
Park o cials met with representatives of American Indian tribes, the state and other federal agencies last week.
The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports the park proposed delaying trapping until Feb. 15 and eliminating a target number to be removed from the herd. But some tribal governments called for trapping to be delayed until late March.
The eventual plan will give guidelines to bison managers during the winter months as they try to bring the popula- tion down from 5,000 to 3,000. It must be nalized by Dec. 31 or the previous win- ter plan will be used.
Bison managers are now moving away from setting a numeric goal.
NOVEMBER 25, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
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