Deschamps didn’t mention Barkus of Kalispell by name, but the Missoulian reports the judge clearly referred to Barkus’ four-year deferred sentence for criminal endangerment. Barkus had crashed his boat into the shore of Flathead Lake after a night of drinking in August 2009. The crash injured all five on board, including U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg, and left one of Rehberg’s staffers in a coma for more than a week.

Prosecutors had reached an even better deal for Barkus — a three-year deferred sentence with $4,000 in fines. District Judge John McKeon rejected the plea agreement Jan. 20 and gave Barkus, 64, the option of accepting a four-year deferred sentence with $29,000 in fines or withdrawing his guilty plea.

Under Barkus’ deferred sentence, the conviction can be removed from his record.

“I always thought deferred sentences were for young people, not for relatively elderly, wealthy state senators,” Deschamps said. He then asked Deputy County Attorney Shawn Thomas what the state thought.

Thomas said he couldn’t speak for Deputy County Attorney Patricia Bower, who handled the case.