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County Attorney

County Attorney Office musselshell County

German Shepherd Pyper County Attorney Comfort Dog in Court

In fond memory of “Pyper,” a treasured office member and friend to many prosecution offices across Montana.  Pyper was the Musselshell County Attorney Comfort Dog for Court appearances or interviews that  relaxed and comforted children or other  participants caught up in a stressful process.  She is missed greatly by all who  knew her  and worked  with her.

Phone: 406-323-2230
Fax: 406-323-3458
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Location
506 Main Street
Roundup, MT 59072
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County Attorney, Adam M. Larsen
Deputy County Attorney, Lance Lundvall
Office Administrator and Paralegal, Teresa Fauth
Victim’s Advocate and Paralegal, Tami Allen
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday (office is closed from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.)

Mission:

The Mission of the Musselshell County Attorney’s Office and Golden Valley County Attorney’s Office is to provide legal representation to Musselshell County in accordance with statutory duties as set by the Montana Legislature.  The County Attorney  as an elected official is a multi-district full time county attorney representing two counties. The County Attorney works with County Commissioners, specified statutory Boards and represents selected agencies of the State of Montana.  The County Attorney’s Office is responsible for the prosecution of all crimes occurring within Musselshell and Golden Valley Counties.  The County Attorney’s main office is in Musselshell County with an office also in Ryegate that has no resident staff.  The County Attorney as a full time elected official cannot have a private law practice.  The County Attorney cannot represent private interests on behalf of citizens or give legal advice to private citizens on matters unrelated to the duties of the County Attorney.  The general duties of the County Attorney are the following:

7-4-2711  County Attorney to be legal adviser of county and other subdivisions.

  1.  The county attorney is the legal adviser of the board of county commissioners. The county attorney shall attend their meetings when required and shall attend and oppose all claims and accounts against the county that are unjust or illegal. The county attorney shall defend all suits brought against the county.
  2. The county attorney shall:
             (a) give, when required and without fee, an opinion in writing to the county, district, and township officers on matters relating to the duties of their respective offices;
             (b) act as counsel, without fee, for fire districts and fire service areas in unincorporated territories, towns, or villages within the county;
             (c) when requested by a conservation district pursuant to 76-15-319, act as counsel, without fee;
             (d) when requested by a weed district pursuant to 7-22-2109, act as counsel, without fee; and
             (e) when requested by a county hospital board pursuant to 7-34-2115, act as counsel, without fee, unless the legal action requested involves the county commissioners.

The County Attorney has other duties that are sprinkled throughout the Montana Code but are not listed here.

Victim Witness Advocate

The Victim Witness Advocate is trained to support victims of crime.  the VWA offers victims information, emotional support, and help finding resources and filling out paperwork.  The Advocate goes to court with the victims of crime and also witnesses in order  to provide emotional support and to enhance a victim’s understanding of the trial process as well as to update victims and witnesses of court dates of defendants.

Requesting Public Records & Information from the County Attorney’s Office

Thank you for your interest in the County Attorney’s public records.   The Constitution of the State of Montana, at Article II, Part II, Section 9, provides everyone the right to examine documents of state government agencies.  Mont. Code Ann. Title 2, Chapter 6, Part 10, provides everyone the right to request public information.  There are provisions for individual privacy, safety, security, and confidentiality.  It is the County Attorney’s Policy to be responsive to requests for records and information that are within the Office’s custodial responsibility.  While this office may not be able to fulfill a request quickly, we are committed to communicating with requestors about delays or our inability to provide the information requested.

Mont. Code Ann. 2-6-2006(3), provides public agencies the ability to charge fees for fulfilling public information requests.  The County Attorney charges the following fees:

  • Actual hourly rate of the County Attorney and staff fulfilling the request (i.e., gathering files & information, research, copying, scanning);
  • $.25 per sheet of paper for printing or copying;
  • Electronically stored files are not provided.  Scanning or digitizing documents is the responsibility of the requesting party.
  • Actual cost for any other incidentals directly related to fulfilling the request.

Be advised that this office has many types of records and many records are not public records.  Records that are made confidential by law are not available.  Records that may be privileged or that are attorney work product are not available.  Records that are classified as confidential criminal justice information will not be available.  Records where individual privacy outweighs the public’s right to know will not be available.  Any record that does not meet the definition of “public record” will not be provided.  Records that are the custodial responsibility of another department or agency will not be provided by this office and a requesting party will be directed to the custodial department or agency that is responsible for records if possible.

Mont. Code Ann. 2-6-1002 definitions state:

“Confidential information” means information that is accorded confidential status or is prohibited from disclosure as provided by applicable law. The term includes information that is:

(a) constitutionally protected from disclosure because an individual privacy interest clearly exceeds the merits of public disclosure;
(b) related to judicial deliberations in adversarial proceedings;
(c) necessary to maintain the security and integrity of secure facilities or information systems owned by or serving the state; and
(d) designated as confidential by statute or through judicial decisions, findings, or orders.

“Public information” means information prepared, owned, used, or retained by any public agency relating to the transaction of official business, regardless of form, except for confidential information that must be protected against public disclosure under applicable law.

“Public record” means public information that is:

(a) fixed in any medium and is retrievable in usable form for future reference; and
(b) designated for retention by the state records committee, judicial branch, legislative branch, or local government records committee.
Prior to fulfilling a request that may exceed 1 hour to fulfill or may exceed 25 pages, this office will provide a written estimate of what costs may be expected to be charged.  This office requires that fees be paid in advance. A Requesting party must confirm in writing if the requesting party wants this office to proceed with the request after receipt of an estimate.  The requesting party must sign an agreement approving the estimated cost and direct the office to proceed and also provide payment in advance with the agreement.  A requesting party must also indicate if the request should be worked on if the actual costs exceed the estimated cost beyond 10% of the estimate.  All actual costs are the responsibility of the requesting party.  Any over-estimate paid in advance will be refunded by the County claim process.
All documents provided to defendants or defense counsel in the ordinary course of business that are governed by Montana’s criminal or other discovery statutes are exempt from the Public Information Request policy and fall under the statutory requirements and policies concerning information flow as required or necessary in the prosecution or handling of caseloads under the supervision of the County Attorney.

Tips for Requesting Public Records from the County Attorney’s Office.

  • Be specific with regard to the type of record requested and include names, dates, or other identifiers that may be applicable.
  • Be specific with regard to subject matter of records being sought if a general request for a class of records are being requested.
  • Be patient.  Public Information Requests are low priority behind the agency’s primary workload and statutory priorities.  The more vague or non-specific a request is, the more time it will take to ascertain what records may be responsive.  The requesting party is responsible for all costs including interpreting what is being requested.  A PIR is only worked on as time permits.

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