Complaint of erratic driver leads to arrest on numerous charges

A preliminary hearing for a Montana man who was arrested on suspicion of DUI, possession of marijuana and being a felon in possession of a firearm earlier this month was continued to Dec. 10 in Washington County Magistrate Court. 

 Mark Stowe, 30, was arrested on Oct. 14 on Midvale Hill on U.S. Highway 95 following a complaint called in to Washington County sheriff’s dispatch of an erratic driver on the highway. The caller said the suspect pickup truck was swerving all over the road and going 25 miles per hour under the speed limit.

 A Washington County sheriff’s deputy located the vehicle at a fish and game checkpoint on Midvale Hill. An off-duty Nampa police officer called in the driving complaint and identified Stowe as the driver of the suspect truck, according to court documents.

 While talking to Stowe, the deputy could smell alcohol and asked him where he was coming from. Stowe said he was coming from the Whitebird area and had to drive slow because of problems with his truck’s transmission.

 The deputy asked Stowe for proof of insurance and registration. While Stowe was looking for insurance papers and registration, the deputy noticed a pistol in a holster tucked under the center fold-down console in the truck. 

 A check of his identification returned that the vehicle registration was expired and Stowe’s Montana driver’s license was suspended. A criminal history check indicated Stowe had a felony conviction for aiding and abetting burglary in Valley County dating back to 2008. 

 Stowe failed parts of the field sobreity test and was placed under arrest for suspicion of DUI. His truck was secured and he was transported to the Washington County Jail in Weiser.

 The deputy received permission from Stowe to search the vehicle. He found a .45 automatic pistol and two rifles. There were miscellaneous boxes of ammunition and a total of 371 rounds of ammunition. A glass jar with 9.5 grams of marijuna was found in the pocket of a backpack, according to court documents.

 The criminal complaint lodged against Stowe charged him with felon in possession of a firearm, DUI, possession of marijuana and no insurance and expired registration.

 Stowe posted bond of $25,000 and was released from jail.