NewsCrime and Courts

Actions

Defense team for double homicide suspect claims investigators acted unlawfully

Posted at 3:59 PM, Jan 16, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-16 18:26:22-05

MISSOULA – A man currently facing homicide charges for a double murder at the Mountain Valley Inn in October claims his treatment by law enforcement during their investigation was unlawful.

Prestron Rossbach’s defense team argues in a motion for a Miranda violation that during Rossbach’s initial interrogation by police he told them multiple times that he was done talking.

Defense counsel says that detectives instead continued questioning him which Rossbach’s defense argues is unlawful because “if the individual indicates in any manner at any time prior to or during questioning that he wishes to remains silent the interrogation must cease.”

Rossbach’s attorneys argue that another suspect in the case, Labenza Charlo, was able to induce her Miranda immediately upon request showing an unlawful biased treatment of Rossbach.

When Rossbach was brought back in for a second interrogation police indicated to him that he would be being charged for the two murders which at the time was untrue.

Defense counsel argues that because of this any statements given to detectives should also be considered unlawful because they were induced by false information by law enforcement.

Judge will now await a response from the state make a ruling on the matter.

Rossbach will make his next court appearance on the 29th of January.

Reporting by Connor McCauley for MTN News