Dan Wilson is dangerous for Montana: he let violent offenders and dangerous abusers back into the community, some even recommitting the same violent crimes.  We can’t trust Dan Wilson to be on the Montana Supreme court.

Dan Wilson allowed a violent, convicted felon to be released without jail time after pleading guilty to the felony of “Strangulation of Partner or Family Member.” That person later committed the same offense and strangled and assaulted his wife while he was out on release by Wilson.

In March 2022, Wilson suspended all five years of one man’s sentence following his “pleading guilty” to the felony offense of “Strangulation of Partner or Family Member.” According to court documents, the offender pled guilty to the crime but was not sent to prison. The charging document in the case stated that he “purposely or knowingly impeded the blood of a partner or family member by applying pressure on the throat or neck of the partner or family member.”

Less than a year after being released and given no jail time by Dan Wilson, the man was arrested and charged with once again trying to strangle his wife. Documents show that the offender “was involved in an altercation with his wife where he struck her multiple times, burned her with a cigarette and strangled her. The victim’s injuries were consistent with her statement.” The man was cited with the felony of “Strangulation” and police “booked him into the main jail.” (State of Montana v. Clayton Earl Dryden, Judgment and Sentence document 03/08/22, Information (charging) document 11/04/21; Montana Department of Corrections Adult Probation and Parole, Report of Violation Clayton Earl Dryden, 01/13/23)

Wilson allowed a man to be released on his own recognizance after he fired two shots at his wife and children in a drunken, violent rage. The man pleaded guilty to criminal endangerment. 

“A Kalispell man accused of firing a gun during a domestic incident last month pleaded guilty Thursday in Flathead County District Court. [He] pleaded guilty to one felony count of criminal endangerment, after a July 16 incident involving his wife and three children. A charge of assault with a weapon was dropped in exchange for the plea. [His] attorney … made a request on behalf of his client to be released on his own recognizance. Judge Dan Wilson granted it.”  (Daily Inter Lake, 08/16/20)

As a district judge, Dan Wilson granted the free release to a man charged with felony negligent homicide for running over his ex-wife with his car, killing her. Wilson allowed the offender to be released on his own recognizance, eliminating the $100,000 bond that a previous judge refused to reduce. At the time of Wilson’s decision, the offender had a history of violence toward women, drunk driving, assaulting family members and had “a standing order of protection” from his current wife.

“A Flathead County District Court judge has agreed to release a 38-year-old Columbia Falls man charged with felony negligent homicide for allegedly killing his ex-wife by accidentally running her over with his vehicle outside a Martin City residence in June. During a Dec. 7 bail-reduction hearing, Judge Dan Wilson granted [him] release on his own recognizance, eliminating the $100,000 bond. At a previous hearing last month, Judge Heidi Ulbricht denied the defendant’s bail-reduction motion.” (Flathead Beacon, 12/07/23)

“[Flathead County Attorney John] Donovan objected to the bail reduction, arguing that circumstances had not changed since Judge Ulbricht denied the motion in early November. He also referenced Floyd’s history of partner or family member assault and aggravated assault charges, and his temporary order of protection violations, which were dismissed. ‘There’s concerns from the state regarding [his] criminal history that there is violence towards women,’ Donovan said. ‘There is a standing order of protection right now from Mr. Floyd’s current wife. The seriousness of this case gives the state concern if [he] was released. The charges are serious – causing the death of another human being.” (Flathead Beacon, 12/07/23)

The offender “has drunk driving convictions in 2008 and 2017, as well as past charges of partner or family member assault and two orders of protection against him.” (Hungry Horse News, 03/06/24)