Jury finds Montana Sen. Jason Ellsworth guilty of official misconduct
A Helena jury found the former Senate president guilty after prosecutors said he steered $170,100 in state contracts to a friend without bidding.
- On Tuesday, July 21, 2026, a Lewis and Clark County jury found former Montana Senate President Jason Ellsworth guilty of official misconduct for mishandling state-funded contracts awarded to a company linked to a longtime friend.
- Prosecutors alleged Ellsworth leveraged his legislative leadership role in December 2024 to steer $170,000 in contracts to Agile Analytics, a company linked to Bryce Eggleston, while bypassing state bidding requirements.
- Testimony revealed Ellsworth requested that lobbyist Scott Boulanger backdate a bid estimate to legitimize the contracts, though Ellsworth testified he believed the documents were merely proposals rather than binding agreements.
- Judge Christopher Abbott scheduled Ellsworth's sentencing for September 10, 2026, where the former senator faces a maximum penalty of a $500 fine and six months in jail for the misdemeanor conviction.
- Defense attorneys, having unsuccessfully moved to dismiss charges throughout the trial, established grounds for a potential appeal to the Montana Supreme Court, laying foundation for continued legal challenge.
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41 Articles
Jury finds ex-Senate Republican guilty of what!? (jail time...
A Helena jury found former state Senate President Jason Ellsworth guilty Tuesday night of misdemeanor criminal official misconduct for awarding $170,000 in no-bid contracts to a company represented by a long-timfe business associate. Jury deliberations took nearly four hours and left Ellsworth, a Hamilton Republican, potentially facing a six-month jail sentence for mishandling two contracts awarded to Agile Analytics in the final days of Decembe…
Associated Press News
Jury finds Montana Sen. Jason Ellsworth guilty of official misconduct
A Helena jury found former state Senate President Jason Ellsworth guilty Tuesday night of misdemeanor criminal official misconduct for awarding $170,000 in no-bid contracts to a company represented by a long-timfe business associate.
Montana Free Press
Jury finds Ellsworth guilty of official misconduct
A Helena jury found former state Senate President Jason Ellsworth guilty of misdemeanor criminal official misconduct for awarding $170,000 in no-bid contracts to a company represented by a long-time business associate. Jury deliberations took nearly four hours and left Ellsworth, a Hamilton Republican, potentially facing a six-month jail sentence. Ellsworth exited the courthouse shortly after the verdict was read. Lewis and Clark County District…
Daily Montanan
Ellsworth found guilty of official misconduct in criminal trial
HELENA — Former Montana Senate president Jason Ellsworth was found guilty of official misconduct – a misdemeanor – on Tuesday evening in Lewis and Clark District Court in Helena. He could face a $500 fine or as many as six months in jail. Sentencing is scheduled at 3 p.m., Sept. 10. As the verdict was read, […]
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