Woman’s Night Out Turns Into Felony DUI Charge
Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On September 7, 2025, at 12:35 a.m., a Missoula County Sheriff’s Office deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Ford F150 near the intersection of North Russell Street and Birch Street. Upon contacting the driver, 45-year-old Janel Eppich, he noticed the smell of an alcoholic beverage coming from the driver’s seat.
He asked whether she had been drinking alcohol, and she said she had four drinks at the Griz game and more at a friend’s house. The deputy asked Eppich to step out of the vehicle to investigate for DUI. Another deputy arrived and also smelled an odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from her.
The deputy conducted Standard Field Sobriety Tests, and Eppich exhibited 6/6 clues of impairment on the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test. During the Walk and Turn Test, she exhibited 4/8 clues of impairment. The One Leg Stand test was not scored.
The Deputy Continued His DUI Investigation
The deputy read Janel the Montana Past Advisory, and she refused to provide a preliminary breath sample. She was advised that she was under arrest, and she was placed in handcuffs. The deputy read the Montana Implied Consent form and asked her if she would provide a blood sample, which she stated she would.
She was taken to St. Pat's Hospital, where two vials of blood were taken and placed into evidence. Based on his observations, including her bloodshot watery eyes, the swaying, the overwhelming odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from her person, and the scores on the SFSTs, Eppich was arrested for DUI and was cited for other violations.
The deputy obtained Eppich’s DMV information and cited her for operating a motor vehicle without insurance in effect, operating a motor vehicle with fictitious plates, and operating a motor vehicle while her privilege to do so was revoked. According to court documents, Eppich’s DMV records show that her license was indeed suspended.
READ MORE: Missoula News - Crime Reports
Eppich is Charged With Felony DUI
A review of her criminal history showed that Eppich had three prior convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol. She is currently being charged with felony DUI. This case was filed directly into District Court, and her bond was set at $25,000.
The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.
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