19 year-old Micah Nicholas was in the Missoula County Jail until Monday afternoon charged with felony vehicular homicide while under the influence after allegedly driving drunk and causing the death of 48 year-old Michael Haley.

According to court documents, the Montana Highway Patrol investigated a one vehicle rollover crash that occurred on Saturday, May 5th on Golf View Drive in Missoula County. When officers arrived they found a black Audi sedan with obvious rollover damage. A passenger in the sedan had been ejected during the crash and was transported to St. Patrick Hospital via Life Flight. The man subsequently died from his injuries.

The trooper interviewed the driver, Micah Nicholas who admitted that he had been speeding at the time of the crash and that he admitted having a beer while golfing. His BAC tested at .221

Any reading over .08 is considered driving under the influence.

Nicholas was released on $7,195 bail when the charges were all misdemeanors.

He has now been charged with felony vehicular homicide while under the influence, which carries a maximum penalty of up to 30 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.

Nicholas appeared in Missoula Justice Court in person with his parents and his attorney on Tuesday before Judge Landee Holloway.

Deputy County Attorney Meghann Paddock appeared for the state.

“The State would ask that alcohol testing be imposed,” she said. “The defendant’s only criminal history is two prior DUI’s. At this time the state is not seeking any no contact provisions with witnesses or the family of the victim. Further, the state understands that the defendant and Mr. Haley were friends, so we don’t have any issue with him attending the funeral.”

Nicholas’ attorney asked that the $7,195 bail be continued and that he be allowed to stay with his parents in Seeley Lake until trial.

Judge Holloway agreed to those conditions and added that Nicholas be placed on Pretrial Supervision.

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