Gourneau Changes Plea For Criminal Endangerment

Amanda Jo Marie Gourneau changed her plea to guilty for the charge of criminal endangerment during a hearing in district court on Tuesday, March 23.

Maximum penalties for the offense are 10 years in prison, a $50,000 fine or both. A pre-sentencing investigation was ordered.

During the hearing, Gourneau testified that she was driving with someone who she thought was a friend but didn’t know him for very long. When the vehicle was pulled over by law enforcement, he told her that he had warrants out for his arrest. She said she thought she didn’t have a choice, so she attempted to drive away. She admitted to driving at a high rate of speed through a school zone in Culbertson.

According to court documents, the highway patrol caught up to the vehicle near mile marker 641 on Highway 2. The vehicle reached speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour. The vehicle turned off Highway 2, traveled south for two miles and then westbound on BIA Route 1, exceeding 100 mph for 11 miles. Gourneau turned back on Highway 2 and traveled west toward Brockton. Speeds were recorded at 115 mph. At this point, the Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice and Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office began assisting the MHP.

After traveling the outskirts of Brockton at 100 mph, she turned south on BIA Route 1, traveling over 100 mph for six miles. She went on BIA Route 4 and then she drove for several miles on a prairie trail and onto some fields. At one time, the vehicle came to rest in a field when the male passenger exited the vehicle and fled on foot. He was eventually detained by tribal police. The vehicle turned onto BIA route 1 and went a mile before being demobilized by tribal police. The MHP trooper then placed Gourneau into custody.