Mont. Governor’s Aide Charged in Fatal Crash

A top aide to Gov. Judy Martz was charged Tuesday with negligent homicide for a crash last week that killed the majority leader of the state House.

Prosecutors said Shane Hedges, 27, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.15% after the accident late last Wednesday. The legal limit in Montana is 0.10%.

The crash took place as Hedges and Majority Leader Paul Sliter were returning from a steak house in the old mining town of Marysville, west of Helena.

Sliter, 32, was thrown from Hedges’ sport-utility vehicle when it ran off a winding dirt road and rolled down an embankment.

Hedges, the governor’s policy advisor, suffered minor injuries.

Lewis and Clark County Atty. Leo Gallagher said investigators determined Hedges was driving at the time. He said tests showed Sliter also had been drinking, but he declined to be more specific.

The negligent homicide charge carries up to 20 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.

Gallagher said authorities decided not to arrest Hedges. Instead, he will be ordered to appear in court Sept. 6.

“This has been a tough week. My comments are right there,” Martz said, pointing to a statement from her office that Hedges will be on a paid leave because of “emotional and physical injuries.” She declined to comment further.

Hedges could not be located for comment.

His lawyer, Gregory Jackson, said, “This has been a very trying and difficult time for all involved, including Shane, as Mr. Sliter was his best friend and Mr. Sliter’s death has been devastating to him, as well.”

Sliter, a four-term Republican, was a rising star in Montana politics. Term limits would have prevented him from running again for the House next year.