I am originally from Dutton, Montana.  (Dutton will ALWAYS be my home).  I had the good fortune to attend Carroll College -- GO SAINTS ! -- for my undergraduate degree in philosophy.  After attending the University of Montana for graduate work in philosophy, I decided to abandon the love of wisdom and proceed to law school.  I graduated from UM Law in 2005.  I passed the bar and promptly suffered catastrophic heart failure.  In August 2006 I had a heart transplant at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Washington.

I returned to Montana in November and returned to the practice of law.  In April 2007, I was fortunate enough to get a job offer from the esteemed John E. Smith.  John and I have been working together ever since.

My practice is exclusively criminal defense.  I practice in all courts and in the past 6 months (Feb. -- July 2010) I have tried two federal felony trials and twice argued before the Montana Supreme Court.

My wife works at the Federal District Court in Missoula.  I have two beautiful daughters.  My life in all aspects is perfect.

Dutton High School 1990-1994

Carroll College 1994-1998

University of Montana Graduate Department (Philosophy) 2000-2002

University of Montana School of Law 2003-2005

Currently employed at Smith & Stephens, P.C. in Missoula, MT

Licensed to Practice:  State of Montana; Federal Courts of Montana; 9th Circuit Court of Appeals; United States Supreme Court

Recipient of the first ever "Champion of Justice Award" from the  Montana Innocence Project (2012)

Lifetime member of the Montana Criminal Defense Lawyers Ass'n

Lifetime Member--National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys

Member -- Association of Federal Defense Attorneys

Member--National Legal Aid and Defender Association