Montana
Trial of man accused of running down Montana Highway Patrol trooper underway in Libby
The trial of a Lincoln County man accused of running over a Montana Highway Patrol trooper during a law enforcement pursuit more than a year ago is underway in Libby.
Jason Allen Miller, 42, is facing felony charges of attempted deliberate homicide, criminal endangerment, aggravated kidnapping, possession of dangerous drugs and criminal mischief following a Feb. 16, 2023, incident in north Lincoln County. Miller pleaded not guilty to the charges, but he remains locked up in the county jail with bail set at $1.5 million.
Trooper Lewis Johnson suffered life-threatening injuries in the incident near Rexford and is still recovering after returning home to Chester in October 2023.
Tuesday was spent selecting a jury of 14, including nine women and five men. Two are alternates.
Wednesday began with opening statements from Assistant Attorney General Thorin Geist, who is prosecuting the case, and defense attorney Daniel Wood.
Geist argued the evidence he and fellow prosecutor Selene Koepke would present would show Miller was aware of the warrant for his arrest and that the defendant wanted to “get away from law enforcement at all costs.”
Wood wanted jurors to consider the question of intent.
“I am focusing on the attempted deliberate homicide charge, the most serious charge, and the difference between intention,” Wood said. ‘We know what happened. Miller struck Trooper Johnson, leaving him partially paralyzed. But what was Jason Miller thinking that day? I don’t envy you that task, but I ask you to keep an open mind.”
Following testimony from Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Clint Heintz about the events of Feb. 16, 2023, Johnson took the stand.
He explained his training, graduating high school in Chester in 2006, graduating from the University of Montana and joining the Montana National Guard where he met and befriended Heintz.
When the chase began, Johnson was within 30 minutes of his shift ending. He said Heintz sought his assistance in the pursuit and he joined it on Montana 37.
After explaining the pursuit continuing on to Camp 32 Road, Johnson testified to his recollection of the moments leading up to him being run over.
“His truck appeared to be stuck, Heintz stopped and I went past and blocked the road and got out,” Johnson said. “At first I couldn’t see the truck and I walked up the left track and my vehicle was behind me. Then the truck was coming toward me. I quickly determined lethal force would be a prudent option.
“There was no waiting, I fired when I knew I was going to be run over,” Johnson said.
After further questioning by Geist, Johnson said he knew a big truck was coming at him, accelerating heavily and was under control.
“I felt my life was in danger,” Johnson said. “To use deadly force, you have to believe your life is in danger.”
Johnson recalled Heintz making the radio call and being taken to the U.S. Forest Service Ranger Station in Eureka for transport to Kalispell by the ALERT helicopter.
When Geist asked him how close he came to dying, Johnson replied, “I came real close.”
Including the severing of vertebrae in his spine, he suffered 22 broken ribs, a broken shoulder, his right lung was punctured and his stomach lining was torn.
Koepke began the prosecution’s case by questioning Heintz. The deputy led the pursuit from Eureka to Camp 32 Road near Lake Koocanusa Bridge. He is credited with helping save Johnson’s life after he was struck by Miller’s truck.
Dash cam footage from Heintz’s patrol vehicle showed the chase from the beginning to the time when Miller struck Johnson. The footage left many observers tearing up and sobbing.
The gallery included many law enforcement officers from the region as well as family members of Johnson and Miller.
Lewis Johnson and his wife, Kate Johnson, also a trooper, comforted each other while the video footage played.
Heintz described the day to the jury following questions from Koepke. He said he was on patrol in Eureka when he encountered Miller’s brother who told him where to find the defendant.
Heintz went to a property owned by Miller’s father. He testified he saw Miller loading tires into the bed of a Chevrolet Silverado truck. When Heintz attempted to contact Miller, video footage showed Miller get into the truck and drive away, followed by Heintz.
The pursuit continued on Montana 37. Heintz said Miller drove at speeds exceeding 100 mph. He testified that he believed Miller endangered the lives of more than 10 people as well as law officers involved in the chase.
Heintz used his public address system multiple times in an effort to get Miller to pull over. He testified that it had worked in the past.
Video footage showed the chase as it left Montana 37 and on to Camp 32 Road. Miller’s vehicle slid on the ice- and snow-covered road. He backed up, then drove toward Johnson’s vehicle.
Heintz saw a muzzle flash of Johnson firing at the pickup from about 15 feet away as Miller drove toward the trooper. Heintz then saw Johnson up on the hood of Miller’s truck before rolling off and under one of the tires. Heintz testified that he believed Miller could have manuevered around Johnson and his patrol vehicle.
The trial will continue Thursday and is expected to last into next week.
Although newly minted GOP candidates for the U.S. House and U.S. Senate have garnered heavyweight endorsements, the Montana Republican Party said Thursday it won’t throw its support behind any candidates for federal office in the primary.
“The Montana Republican Party (MTGOP) stands behind its deep bench of qualified candidates seeking to represent Montanans and supports a competitive primary process to let voters pick their preferred candidates,” the Montana GOP said in a news release Thursday.
Monday, U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke announced he was retiring due to health concerns once his term ends, and he immediately tapped talk-show host Aaron Flint as his preferred successor in Congress.
Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen and Flathead County Republican Central Committee Chairperson Al Olszewski also filed for the U.S. House as Republicans, as did Ray Curtis of Bonner.
Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines withdrew, and in a statement the same night, announced an endorsement of former U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme, who had filed the same day.
In the Senate, Lee Calhoun and Charles Walking Child also filed to run in the Republican primary.
Endorsements for Flint and Alme cascaded. U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed both candidates, and U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy and Gov. Greg Gianforte threw their weight behind Flint and Alme.
Late on Wednesday, the Montana GOP did not immediately have comment on the news Daines, Montana’s senior U.S. senator, had resigned, but Thursday, the party thanked Zinke and Daines for their service.
A news release said the party would not endorse any candidates in the federal primary and would leave the job in the hands of voters.
“The party hopes every candidate will make their case to the public, contrasting their Republican policies and principles with those of Democrats — as well as phony ‘Independents,’” the news release said.
Former University of Montana President Seth Bodnar announced a run for the U.S. Senate as an independent this week.
A tension within the Republican party has emerged in recent years between hardline conservatives and more moderate members, and some legislative primaries illustrate the split.
This week, the state GOP said the number of primaries for state legislative seats shows a high interest from Montanans who want to serve the state and pass Republican policy, and the MTGOP “is glad to see so many Republicans being called to public service.”
In a brief call, MTGOP spokesperson Ethan Holmes said the party had not ruled out endorsements in legislative primaries.
In the news release, however, the MTGOP offered its view of the larger political debate.
“Montana voters know that beyond the primaries, there is a clear choice between Republican and Democratic governance; one path leads to lower taxes, less crime and stronger families, and the other leads to higher taxes, more crime, and social decay,” MTGOP Chairperson Art Wittich said in a statement.
The news release also said the state GOP is working “tirelessly to deliver a Bright Red Future” at both the state and federal level and looks forward to help candidates whom voters select win in November.
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at March 4, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from March 4 drawing
07-14-42-47-56, Powerball: 06, Power Play: 4
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from March 4 drawing
33-38-39-47-51, Star Ball: 07, ASB: 02
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from March 4 drawing
01-07-08-27, Bonus: 12
Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from March 4 drawing
05-10-26-53-59, Powerball: 06
Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Montana Cash numbers from March 4 drawing
03-04-06-08-10
Check Montana Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 4 drawing
12-13-36-39-58, Bonus: 03
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
- Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.
The search for a new University of Montana president has drawn more than 60 applicants, according to a spokesperson for the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education.
“We do not have an exact count at this time, as several applications are still being completed and additional submissions are expected,” said spokesperson and Deputy Commissioner Galen Hollenbaugh in an email earlier this week.
In January, then-UM-President Seth Bodnar announced his resignation to pursue other public service. Wednesday, the final day of filing, he announced he was running as an independent for the U.S. Senate to try to unseat Republican incumbent Steve Daines.
Commissioner of Higher Education Clayton Christian earlier said that with the advice of AGB Search, a firm that’s helped the Montana University System conduct other executive searches, he would undertake an expedited process to appoint a new president.
Christian has been providing brief updates on a website dedicated to the search. Last week, he said he and AGB Search are reviewing applications, and the pool of candidates was “strong and diverse.”
The commissioner also announced he was convening a small working group to assist in the search, members who “represent a variety of perspectives to assist in vetting and narrowing this field of exceptional candidates.”
In an email this week, Hollenbaugh identified the members of the working group who are assisting Christian with application review as:
- Community member and former Regent Joyce Dombrouski
- Faculty Senate Chairperson Valerie Moody
- Staff Senate President Dominic Beccari
- Administration Representative John DeBoer (Vice President of Academic Affairs)
- ASUM (Associated Students of the University of Montana) President Buddy Wilson
Hollenbaugh declined to comment on the way the rest of the process would unfold or the role the working group members would play.
Christian earlier said he anticipated an appointment within one to three months, or as soon as early this month.
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