48 year-old Jason Yorton appeared in Missoula Justice Court on Tuesday afternoon after being arrested for driving drunk down the wrong side of Interstate 90, causing several vehicles to swerve out of the way to avoid being struck head-on. 

Deputy Missoula County Attorney Selene Koepke explained to Judge Landee Holloway why she was asking for $10,000 bail.

"He is charged with criminal endangerment and DUI for going the wrong way on I-90, and causing at least one motorist to swerve out of his way to avoid a head-on collision," Koepke said. "When he was stopped by law enforcement he had no idea what was going on, and the State believed he could have very easily killed someone."

Keopke said Yorton, who lives at and is employed by a popular guest ranch in the Blackfoot Valley, has a lengthy criminal history.

"His criminal history includes a 1992 traffic offense out of Colorado, and a 1992 felony traffic conviction in Colorado," she said. "He has a 1993 felony trespassing conviction where he was sentenced to four years with the DOC, a 1994 assault conviction. Out of Montana, he has three no-insurance tickets, as well as three speeding convictions. The State learned that he surrendered his drivers license in Florida in 2011, and we're not sure if he has any ties to Montana., so the State is concerned that he presents a flight risk."

Judge Holloway set bail at $5,000, and remanded Yorton back to jail.

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