Man pleads not guilty to felony endangerment

The State of Montana vs. Austin Adams

Austin Adams pleaded not guilty to custodial interference, a felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor, at his initial appearance in Phillips County District Court according to court documents filed on May 17.

During a May 28 Omnibus Hearing in the case a trail request for September 27, 2017, was requested, according to the omnibus memorandum.

Adams charges stem from an incident that started on April 3 of this year. Court documents allege that Adams knowingly contributed to the delinquency of a minor by assisting, promoting or encouraging the child to abandon the child’s place of residence without the consent of the child’s parents.

On that day, the child’s parent came to the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office and reported that his daughter had run away. The father alerted the sheriff's office that his daughter had contact with Adams on Facebook and with the help of a technology expert, the officers were able to read the minor's text messages, one of which stated that Adams was going to come to the family's home and that the minor "would be coming with the Defendant whether she wanted to go or not," according to court records.

Later on April 3, the sheriff's office received a report that the girl had been identified by a clerk at a Missoula Wal-Mart. The next day, Adams and the minor were in custody in Missoula where Adams gave authorities there an incorrect name. The minor told a Missoula detective that Adams had picked her up in Malta and driven her to Missoula. The minor was then returned to her father in Malta by the Phillips County Sheriff and the Missoula Police Department.

Custodial interference is a felony and a person convicted of the offense shall be imprisoned for a term not to exceed 10 years, fine not to exceed $50,000 or both.

Endangering the welfare of a child is a misdemeanor and a person convicted of this offense shall be imprisoned for a term not to exceed six months in the county jail or a fine not to exceed $500 or both.