Mike Smith

Butte

Government and Politics Reporter at Montana Standard

Longtime reporter, including 20 years at AP, 16 as Statehouse correspondent in Indiana. Reports and writes now for The Montana Standard in Butte, MT.

Featured in: Favicon

mtstandard.com Favicon

dailymail.co.uk Favicon

usnews.com Favicon

today.com

chron.com

houstonchronicle.com Favicon

fstoppers.com Favicon

fox2now.com Favicon

arkansasonline.com Favicon

stripes.com + 92 more

Articles

Residents deliver united message: Don't make Butte a 'prison town'

1 day ago | mtstandard.com | Mike Smith

A dozen residents and several commissioners voiced opposition Wednesday night to having a Montana women’s prison built and operated in Butte, saying it will lock the city into a “prison town” image it doesn’t want. It will stifle economic growth, they said, rely on county services and infrastructure without paying property taxes and shouldn’t be forced on Butte if Butte doesn’t want it.
Man gets 100 years in prison for sexually assaulting girl in Butte

4 days ago | mtstandard.com | Mike Smith

A judge sentenced a man to 100 years in the Montana State Prison on Monday for sexually assaulting a 7-year-old girl in Butte in early 2024 while he was still on parole for an incest conviction involving a 13-year-old girl in Helena. Raul Beltran, 57, has maintained innocence since he was arrested and charged in February 2024 and did so again Monday, despite a jury convicting him in March of sexual assault and sexual abuse of children.
B-SB commissioners to DOC: More answers needed on any women's prison in Butte

4 days ago | mtstandard.com | Mike Smith

Two Butte-Silver Bow commissioners want the Montana Department of Corrections to share more information on any potential plans to build a new women’s prison in Butte — before a decision is made. If Russell O’Leary and John Morgan get an OK from fellow commissioners Wednesday night, the council will formally ask the DOC to provide “further clarification” of its “intentions” to build the prison here.
Butte man with six DUIs charged with seventh

1 week ago | wvnews.com | Mike Smith

A 49-year-old Butte man with six DUI convictions has pleaded not guilty to an alleged seventh offense and a conviction on it carries serious potential prison time. Bryon Dale Visser was arraigned Thursday on a felony charge of driving under the influence as a fourth or subsequent offense and misdemeanor counts of operating with liability insurance and improper use of a center lane.
Owner says Post Building in Uptown Butte on the mend

1 week ago | mtstandard.com | Mike Smith

A couple says structural repairs have been made to the historic Post Building in Uptown Butte since a fire gutted it in early 2020, taking out the Irish Times Bar, the Post Bar and the Muddy Creek Brewery with it. But the building at 2 E. Galena St. still needs a new roof and other work, Corey and Kristi Markovich say, and the Butte-Silver Bow Urban Revitalization Agency gave them a $29,375 grant on Tuesday to help pay for it.
Butte man with six DUIs charged with seventh

1 week ago | mtstandard.com | Mike Smith

A 49-year-old Butte man with six DUI convictions has pleaded not guilty to an alleged seventh offense and a conviction on it carries serious potential prison time. Bryon Dale Visser was arraigned Thursday on a felony charge of driving under the influence as a fourth or subsequent offense and misdemeanor counts of operating with liability insurance and improper use of a center lane.
Judge barks at Butte defendant: 'Do you have a skill to be quiet and listen?'

1 week ago | mtstandard.com | Mike Smith

At first, a man accused of purposefully shattering a window at the Emma Park Neighborhood Center wouldn’t speak at all during his arraignment. Then, after District Judge Frank Joseph asked him loudly if he could speak at all, 55-year-old Michael Dylan O’Keefe talked too much. He made several statements from a courtroom podium while Joseph was speaking at the same time, so for 10 seconds or more, neither was clearly audible to others in the courtroom. Then the judge paused.
Prosecutors: Holding Butte police officers at bay is no joking matter

1 week ago | mtstandard.com | Mike Smith

Police say a man holed up in an apartment bedroom in Butte and held several officers at bay by claiming he had a gun, only to say later he was just joking. Prosecutors are not amused. They charged 53-year-old Larry Jason White of Butte with felony burglary, felony intimidation and two misdemeanors tied to an incident on April 15 in an old building with apartments on South Montana Street.
Judge keeps incest case against Butte woman moving, potentially to trial

1 week ago | mtstandard.com | Mike Smith

A judge says prosecutors had enough evidence to charge a Butte woman with three counts of incest by accountability for allegedly knowing her husband was sexually assaulting children and doing nothing about it. A defense lawyer had asked District Judge Frank Joseph to dismiss those felony charges against his client, 35-year-old Meggan Cherry, saying there was no evidence she aided or abetted the crimes.
Prosecutors charge Butte man and 17-year-old with robbery but only a coat taken

2 weeks ago | msuexponent.com | Mike Smith

Robbery charges have been filed against a Butte man and a 17-year-old for allegedly having a gun and demanding a man give them his coat and shoes during an incident in broad daylight. Prosecutors charged 17-year-old Christopher Rolfe as an adult with robbery and 20-year-old Anthony Isiah Fury with robbery by accountability, but either is punishable by up to 40 years in prison.