Judge Orders State Hospital Evaluation After York Standoff
A judge ruled Jan. 6 that David Darrow Russo will be committed to the Montana State Hospital for treatment and evaluation after a doctor found him mentally unfit to proceed in a case tied to a November armed standoff north of York. The decision pauses criminal proceedings while health officials develop a treatment plan, a development that affects public safety, court timelines, and local mental health capacity.
A Lewis and Clark County judge on Jan. 6 ordered that 45-year-old David Darrow Russo be sent to the Montana State Hospital for treatment and evaluation after a medical examiner found him presently unfit to stand trial. The ruling suspends all criminal proceedings in a case stemming from a November incident on Owl Road north of York in which Russo is accused of pointing a loaded firearm at law enforcement and provoking a multi-hour standoff that prompted SWAT deployment.
Russo was arrested last month on three felony counts of assault and one felony count of theft. Court and jail staff reported ongoing difficulties interacting with Russo following his arrest, which led a doctor assigned to the case to conclude he is not currently competent to participate in trial proceedings. As a result, the court ordered Russo committed to the state hospital so clinicians can develop an individualized treatment plan aimed at restoring his fitness to proceed.
Under the court timeline, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services will file a report on Russo’s status by Jan. 30, 2026. A not guilty plea has been entered on his behalf for the time being, and a status hearing is scheduled for February. Bail for Russo was set at $50,000 at the time of his November arrest.
For residents of Lewis and Clark County, the order underscores the intersection of criminal justice and mental health response. The suspension of court proceedings temporarily halts the county’s effort to resolve criminal charges, while the State Hospital’s capacity and timeline for treatment will shape how quickly the case can return to the courtroom. Law enforcement officials expended significant resources during the November standoff, and the commitment shifts some of the response burden toward clinical services.
The court action follows standard procedures when a defendant is found unfit to stand trial, prioritizing treatment to restore competency before criminal adjudication resumes. The State Hospital will create a treatment program tailored to Russo’s clinical needs and report back to the court, which will then determine whether proceedings can continue. The coming weeks will determine whether treatment restores competence and how long the case remains on hold.
Residents seeking more information about court schedules or public safety updates can follow Lewis and Clark County court notices and local law enforcement advisories for developments in this matter.
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