Broadwater County District Court January 30
Author: MT43 News Reporter
Broadwater County District Court January 30
MT43 News Reporter
In Judge Christopher D. Abbott’s court, Michael Andrew Baudour received a sentence of 8 years at the Montana Department of Corrections with 5 years suspended for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Criminal Endangerment. It is Baudour’s 7th DUI felony. During sentencing, Baudour pleaded guilty to all charges and apologized.
According to Broadwater Sheriff’s Deputy Chase Rasmussen, Baudour was stopped after he almost clipped construction workers. Defense attorney Qasim Abdul-Baki presented a witness who testified that Baudour held a manager’s job, had a family and had finished addiction treatment during his 60 days in jail on another conviction in Butte Silver Bow from February of 2023. He also received a $500 fine, 100 hours of community service and will need to write a written apology to Deputy Rasmussen. The sentence will run concurrently with his Butte Silver Bow conviction. Baudour will begin his sentence February 11, at the Department of Corrections Pre-Release Center in Helena.
Judge Abbott ruled for Baudour to serve his time at the Helena Pre-Release Center so he can be close to his family. However, the judge pointed out that running from cops is a serious business, that he needs to be held accountable. Judge Abbott admonished Baudour with these words: “People speak well of you. You have a lot of things going for you now, but a record catches up with you. “
Richard Dee Anderson was arraigned on 3 counts: Driving Under the Influence of alcohol, having no valid driver’s license and driving an improperly licensed vehicle. This is his 4th offense with 3 prior convictions. His court hearing is set for February 27.
In a hearing to provide evidence, 8-year veteran deputy Jordon Grimsrud was grilled by Grant Anton Benson’s defense attorney, Brent Flowers, about whether Benson was properly arrested for DUI. After a first review of Grimsrud’s body camera video, Judge Abbott ruled he would review the video again before he would decide whether to proceed with the case.
Christopher Stevens Killmeyer, 43, of Belgrade, was sentenced to 5 years with 5 years suspended for his 4th DUI offense when he was stopped by officers on March 20, 2023. He has pleaded guilty to the charges.
Kara Diane Lekse had an omnibus hearing to decide what evidence can be presented and any other legal proceedings that can be addressed before her trial. She was charged August 2, 2025, with criminal possession of dangerous drugs, methamphetamine, driving without a valid license and an active warrant out of Judith Basin County. The officer who stopped her found a pipe, a weight scale, some white crystal-like substances and a black pistol in her car.
Josuah Ross appeared before Judge Abbott on a Sept. 19, 2021, charge of breaking and entering, criminal mischief, family member assault and obstructing a peace officer.
Curtis Justin Smith was found guilty of criminal mischief and threat of bodily injury. Judge Abbott set sentencing for February 27, 2026 so that Smith can enter an addiction treatment program.
Jerold Cecil Wiederholt petitioned the court to be released from having to register as a sex offender and to leave to file his 2006 conviction of sexual intercourse without consent. Neither Wiederholt nor his attorney, Robert Stephens were present in court, so action on the petition was moved to February 27, 2026.
Two other cases before Judge Abbott’s court were private, involving an estate hearing and a parenting decision.
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