Billings nurse denies felony endangerment stemming from DUI

A Billings nurse has denied a felony charge accusing her of driving intoxicated while her child was in the vehicle.
Lisa Larsen appeared in district court on July 23 and entered not guilty pleas to one count of felony criminal endangerment and misdemeanor counts of driving with a suspended or revoked license, no insurance and speeding.
Larsen, 36, had previously posted a $5,000 bond and was allowed to remain free on several court-ordered conditions including maintaining her employment, a 10 p.m. curfew and being subject to remote breath tests.
Defense attorney Greg Paskell requested that Larsen be given her license back pending the outcome of the case because a DUI initially charged in the case had been dismissed and also the fact that Larsen lives in Laurel and works as a nurse in Billings. Stillwater County Attorney Nancy Rohde objected, saying the DUI was dismissed because the felony count of criminal endangerment includes the alleged alcohol offense. Rohde also noted that Larsen refused to submit to a breath test the night of the offense, which mandates her license automatically be seized until the case is resolved.
Twenty-second Judicial District Court Judge Blair Jones denied the request, saying there were “too many problems at this point.”
According to court documents, Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Shane Warehime was dispatched to a report of an eastbound vehicle on I-90 that “was all over the road” and going under the posted 75 mph speed limit. Warehime followed the vehicle and saw it cross the fog line three times and almost hit a construction cone. Once the vehicle entered the construction zone, it was traveling at 63 mph, which was above the posted 45 mph limit, according to court documents.
Trooper Warehime said he could smell the odor of alcohol when he approached the car, but Larsen initially denied that she had been drinking. Later, she said she had a couple of beers, saying “can I be honest with you, and don’t judge me. I have been drinking,” adding that she had her then 7-year-old child in the car with her, according to court documents.
Warehime had learned that Larsen’s driver’s license was not valid and she had a warrant for her arrest out of Park County for failure to pay a speeding ticket. Warehime then conducted a series of field sobriety tests, during which Larsen repeatedly said “she did not want a DUI,” according to court documents. Larsen also refused to provide a breath test and when she was arrested, became “uncooperative and belligerent.”