Montana Lawmaker Pleads Guilty to DUI

Rep. Jade Sooktis, a Democrat from Lame Deer, received a one-year supervision sentence and a $600 fine after a June guilty plea.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Criminal Justice

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Rep. Jade Sooktis pleaded guilty in June to driving under the influence, a lesser charge than the aggravated DUI she originally faced. She was sentenced to one year of formal supervision under the Rosebud County Misdemeanor Probation Office and ordered to pay a $600 fine.

Why it matters

The case involves a sitting Montana state legislator, and the sentence includes a chemical dependency course and a ban on drug and alcohol use during supervision. Prosecutors agreed to drop a marijuana possession while driving charge as part of the resolution.

Sooktis pleaded guilty in June to standard DUI after being charged in May with aggravated DUI following an April 30 arrest in which she allegedly registered a .234% blood alcohol level. She received one year of supervision, a $600 fine, a required chemical dependency course, and a ban on drug and alcohol use, while the stub does not explain the full basis for reducing the original charge.

The players

Jade Sooktis

Jade Sooktis is a Democratic member of the Montana House of Representatives from Lame Deer who represents House District 41.

Rosebud County Misdemeanor Probation Office

The Rosebud County Misdemeanor Probation Office is the local probation agency responsible for supervising misdemeanor sentences in Rosebud County, Montana.

The details

Colstrip police responded to a Town Pump call about two people in a parked vehicle and found the second passenger had already fled, while Sooktis allegedly jumped into the back seat and locked the doors. Sooktis originally pleaded not guilty before changing her plea, and she later gave a statement by text message.

April 30: Colstrip police arrested Sooktis for allegedly intoxicated driving.
May: Sooktis was charged with aggravated driving under the influence.
June: Sooktis pleaded guilty to standard DUI and was sentenced.
Earlier this month (November 2026): Sooktis ran unopposed and won 1,654 votes in House District 41.

Legal Context

Montana's misdemeanor DUI sentencing framework allows supervision, fines, and treatment requirements for a reduced charge, and this case follows that pattern. The outcome sits below the aggravated DUI originally filed, reflecting a plea that carries lighter penalties than the felony-level or enhanced charge.

Residents of House District 41, including Lame Deer and parts of the Northern Cheyenne and Crow reservations, are represented by a lawmaker now under a one-year supervision sentence. The case's conditions, including the chemical dependency course and substance restrictions, apply to the individual through the Rosebud County probation office.

The takeaway

A sitting legislator's DUI case shows how aggravated charges can be reduced through plea agreements, with supervision and treatment replacing harsher penalties. Readers following Montana criminal justice can track how such resolutions are applied across county probation offices.