City of Helena v. Parsons

Justice Dirk Sandefur delivered the Opinion of the Court.

***87¶1 Ronald Scott Parsons appeals the judgment of the Montana First Judicial District Court, Lewis and Clark County, affirming his convictions for misdemeanor negligent endangerment and reckless driving in the City of Helena Municipal Court. We address the following restated issue on appeal:

*712Whether the Municipal Court erroneously precluded evidence, argument, and jury instruction on § 46-6-502, MCA (citizen arrest authority), as a fact defense relevant to the sufficiency of the State's proof of the elements of the offenses?

¶2 We…