Missoula Crime Report: Man Found Guilty of Killing His Wife and Molestation

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - The Missoula County Attorney’s Office charged 17 new criminal complaints this week, which is four more than last week and right around the weekly average. According to County Attorney Kirsten Pabst, four of those were violent crimes or crimes against persons. 

“In one there were four counts of indecent exposure as well as disorderly conduct for allegedly urinating in public,” Pabst said. “In another one, we charge attempted sex trafficking which was related to the two folks that we charged last week. In the endangerment category, there were six new cases. Most of them were criminal endangerments and one was negligent endangerment. In that case, the defendant allegedly tried to steal a dump truck with a person that was underneath.” 

In another case, Pabst said the defendant allegedly drove intoxicated with four children in the vehicle.  

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“In the property crimes category, we charged a couple of thefts,” Pabst said. “One was the theft of a vehicle, and another was theft from a vehicle as well as using credit cards that didn't belong to the person that had taken that vehicle. In the drug category, we charged three new cases, three involving methamphetamine and one involving fentanyl. In administrative crimes, we charge tampering with evidence. The allegation there is that when the defendant was approached by law enforcement, he allegedly tossed stolen wire into the Clark Fork River.” 

In addition to all the new cases this week, Pabst said her office also finished the Staryal Johnston trial. 

“On Wednesday, a jury convicted Staryal Johnston of strangling and killing his wife in 2021,” Pabst said. “The trial lasted for six days, and he was found guilty of deliberate homicide for killing his wife at their home as well as a guilty verdict on a charge of incest for molesting a child.” 

Sentencing has been scheduled for August 22 and Pabst said her office will likely recommend a life sentence.  

You can listen to Pabst's full report below: