Cops and Courts

A Turah man accused of killing two teenage girls last month while driving under the influence of alcohol apologized to the victims’ family members during an emotionally-charged court hearing on Thursday.

David James DelSignore, 29, is charged in Missoula District Court with two counts of vehicular homicide while under the influence and two counts of negligent vehicular assault leading to serious bodily injury. The charges are all felonies, and carry a maximum punishment of 80 years in the Montana State Prison and up to $120,000 in fines.

Although DelSignore opted to not enter direct pleas at Thursday’s arraignment hearing, a standing judge entered denials on his behalf.

Delsignore’s attorney, Morgan Modine, said the seldom-invoked plea alternative was meant as a sign of respect to the victims’ family members, who were present in the standing-room only courtroom. Modine initially requested a 60-day continuance of the hearing to allow time for additional facts to emerge from the investigation. Barring that, he asked the judge to enter a plea on his client’s behalf in order to advance the case procedurally.

“With respect to the family and friends, my client is not comfortable entering a not guilty plea,” Modine said, adding that DelSignore did not wish to shirk responsibility for the tragedy altogether.

“Whether it qualifies under the statute as the charged criminal offense is a different matter, but the fact remains that these girls were killed and it was his vehicle that did it,” Modine said. “Despite what comes out at trial or in a plea bargain, the ramifications are tremendous in the community and to these families. We don’t want the community to think he’s unaffected.”

DelSignore showed an outpouring of emotion and remorse for the tragic events that unfolded on Dec. 26, and which claimed the lives of Taylor Cearley, 15, and Ashlee Patenaude, 14. The Bonner girls were members of the Hellgate freshman basketball team, and were killed as they walked along Highway 200 between Missoula and East Missoula. They were walking from a slumber party in the Missoula area to a party near Bonner, according to court records.

“This horrible accident has affected so many families and individuals by taking two young women from this world at a very young age. I want everyone to know that I am truly sorry for the outcome of this tragic accident,” DelSignore said while facing the families of the victims, who were seated in the front row of the courtroom and cried loudly along with the defendant. “If I could bring these two young women back I certainly would. If I could trade places I most definitely would.”

Two other girls, Teal Packard and Hailey Rumpel, were also injured in the crash but survived.

Watch a video of the arraignment hearing.

Read more.

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